Chapter 10: Fierce fighting at the Indigo league, gather all your passion
It was late in the morning at the Indigo stadium, a slight breeze blowing throughout the stadium as a battle raged on.
Ash sat with Serena and the others in the stands near the front row. Gary faced off against his opponent, a young woman with thick red hair and green eyes.
"This semifinals match is getting very exciting folks, trainer Sandra only has one pokemon to trainer Gary's two. But who knows, a turnaround could be exciting."
"Oh my God this announcer is bad." Misty said.
"Get them Gary!" Leaf shouted.
Ash watched carefully with Pikachu and Serena. Gary's Alakazam carefully keeping pace with a Kangaskhan.
"Kangaskhan use Chip away!" The great pokemon charged forward, furiously trying to hit her opponent. Alakazam moved fast, avoiding each blow while using psychic energy to keep himself just out of harms reach.
"Psycho cut!"
"Alakazam!" Gary's Alakazam slashing his spoons across to create a blade of psychic energy. Kangaskhan crossed her arms to absorb the blow, sliding back a bit but remaining her composure.
"Outrage!"
"Khan!" The Kangaskhan roared, a barrage of dragon energy storming towards Alakazam.
"Teleport and Psychic!" Alakazam vanished, reappearing behind Kangaskhan to lift her up with psychic energy.
"Alakazam!" Gary's pokemon slamming Kangaskhan down head first into the ground.
"Kangaskhan!" Sandra shouted. Kangaskhan laid on her back unconscious.
"Kangaskhan is unable to battle, the winner is Gary!"
"Well done." Gary said. Alakazam closing his eyes and meditating. Leaf lead the audience in applause for Gary.
"Trainer Gary is now moving on to the final round!"
"So Gary made it, I guess it's fate. Now I just have to do the same today." Serena put her hand on Ash's shoulder while he turned to Alain who was sitting nearby. Alain looking back at him.
Later that day, Ash was in his condo's enclosure where his pokemon anxiously waited in front of him. Each eagerly waiting to know if they would get the chance to battle.
With Ash was Serena and his parents. The three were silent, allowing Ash to think his decision over.
"Ok I know who I'm going to use." Ash said putting six of his pokemon into their pokeballs.
Many of his other pokemon gave disappointed looks but went back to what they were doing.
"Team's picked, all there's left to do is wait." Ash said.
"Well lunch is ready in the mean time." Delia said.
"Thanks mom." The four sat down and began eating.
"Mrs. Ketchum, this is very good. Merci." Serena said.
"Thank you Serena. Ash said you're quite the cook yourself."
"Big night for both of you, semifinals and the final round for Serena's showcase." Felix said.
Serena nodded.
"Leaf is really good, this definitely won't be easy."
"I know how you feel. Alain might have been one of the toughest trainers I ever battled." Serena remembered Alain well. Ash was so close to winning the Kalos league, but Alain's Charizard was too much, even for Ash-Greninja.
"We shouldn't be worried though. We made it this far, we can just do our best." Ash said sounding more excited.
Serena nodded.
"Let's go for broke!"
"Pika!" Pikachu shouted then noticing Ash pour a little more ketchup onto his food. Pikachu's eyes nearly turned to hearts as he returned to it. Ash smiling while he pet him.
"I'm glad to see you both feeling so well. I have the utmost confidence in you, Daniel does as well. But no matter what happens you've made us proud." Felix said.
"Without a doubt." Delia said.
Another hour passed and Ash stood in his corner of the Indigo stadium. Pikachu on his shoulder and Alain across from him.
"This is it folks, can you feel the excitement. The final semi-final match is about to begin!"
"I've been waiting for this Ash. Our last battle all those years ago left me wanting more."
"We're ready for you this time Alain!"
"The semi-final match between Ash and Alain will now begin. Each trainer is allowed six pokemon and both may substitute. Trainer's choose your pokemon!"
"Let's do this! I choose you Hawlucha!"
"Hawl!" Hawlucha shouted, gliding through the air with his wings held out. Serena smiling upon seeing the fighting bird land and hold his wings out proudly.
"Still a showoff." She said.
"Him again, alright let's see how much you've improved. Go Toxicroak!" The large poison-frog coming out and moving sleekly on his feet towards Hawlucha.
"The trainers have chosen a Toxicroak and a Hawlucha, this could be quite the venomous match up fol-….Hey who the hell are you, what are you, hey! Bzzzzzt!"
"Sorry about that folks, the last announcer isn't feeling well. I'm Baron Goodtime here to commentate on this match! Let's get ready for an intense battle!" The new announcer having a deeper and more invested voice.
"Toxicroak use Sludge bomb!"
"Hawlucha dodge and use Karate chop!" Hawlucha moved fast, using a combination of gliding and agility to keep himself away from each explosion of poison energy hurled at him.
"Toxicroak use poison jab." Toxicroak met Hawlucha, keeping his karate chop's back with his forearms. However, when he came forward to jab Hawlucha, the fighting bird's eyes glowed blue for a moment. Alain noticing Ash's do the same.
Hawlucha evaded each jab and followed up with a kick to the chest that pushed Toxicroak back. Alain noticing Hawlucha was mimicking Ash's own movements as his other pokemon had done before.
"No way we're falling into this quagmire, Mub bomb!"
"Hawlucha dodge it!" Hawlucha leapt backwards, holding his wings up when he felt a gust of wind and used it to glide away. Toxicroak blasting the ground in front of him with explosive mud. The venom-frog hurled two more into the air.
"Dodge it!" Hawlucha re-angled his wings and flew down at an angle, avoiding each blow.
"Sword's dance!"
"Hawl!" Hawlucha shouted, his body glowing blue with attack power.
"Venoshock!" Toxicroak unleashed a bolt of venomous energy, this time hitting Hawlucha dead on despite his agility. Ash grunting as he felt a bit of the poison.
"Lucha!" Hawlucha grunted, the blast forcing him into the dirt.
"Ohhh that one looked like it hurt folks."
"Come on Hawlucha do your best!" Serena shouted.
"I like this one, a fighting bird, it's so cute." Dawn said.
"Hawlucha you're ok." Ash said, Hawlucha flipping back up with his wings held out.
"Persistent as always, Venoshock!"
"Dodge!" Hawlucha leapt forward, gliding through the air and avoiding the Venoshock.
"Shadow ball!" Toxicroak unleashed four balls of ghostly power. Each missing Hawlucha but burst around him, each collecting energy from the Venoshock.
"Flying press!"
"Hawl!" Hawlucha shouted, hurling himself down just before the collected poison energy exploded where he was.
Before Toxicroak could evade, Hawlucha crashed into him hard. The poison-frog grunting from the power of the blow. Stumbling backwards as Hawlucha stood up in a proud manner.
"Great job Hawlucha!"
"Pikachu!"
"Dead on hit! That's one well trained Hawlucha folks!"
"Ahhh he's much better." Koga said upon hearing the new announcer.
"Yes!" Serena shouted.
"That was impressive, flying press isn't that accurate." Brock said. Lucy nodding.
"Toxicroak use sludge bomb!"
"Croak!" Toxicroak spitting out a series of bombs around the battlefield, Hawlucha evading each one while Toxicroak prepared himself.
"Poison Jab!"
Toxicroak lunged forward just after one of his explosions , hitting Hawlucha's side hard. Hawlucha grunted, but before he could respond he was hit again. Poison filling his body and turned his body violet.
"Merde." Serena said.
"Poison." Felix said in concern.
"Ohhh that's one nasty poison blow folks! Let's hope Hawlucha can hold on!"
"Hawlucha Karate chop!"
Hawlucha struck back hard, hitting Toxicroak's arms , but not decisively.
"High jump kick!"
"Dodge!" Toxicroak tried to move back but Hawlucha leapt up fast enough to smash his knee into the poison-frog's face with the impact of a bulldozer. Toxicroak lifted up into the air from the impact of the blow.
"Arial ace!"
"Hawl!" Hawlucha cried, slashing Toxicroak hard enough to send him plummeting into the earth.
"Toxicroak!" Alain shouted, Toxicroak laying on his back with swirly eyes.
"Toxicroak is unable to battle!"
"And Toxicroak goes down hard! Trainer Ash takes the lead now!"
"Keep it up Ash!" Serena shouted.
"No mercy!" Misty added.
"Hawlucha return, great moves out there."
"Toxicroak return, you did very well."
"He must want to give Hawlucha a rest." Dawn said.
"Poison can be very lethal in battle." Lucy said.
"Ash has taken the lead for now." Lance said.
"I have the utmost confidence in him."
"True, but this one has beaten Ash before, one a league, and came very highly recommended by Diantha." Lance said.
"True enough, this is the king of battle where champions are forged." Lance nodding.
"I expected as much seeing you again, but we're just getting started. Go Metagross!" Alain shouted.
The large steel pokemon came out and hovered over the ground.
"I choose you Sceptile!"
"Tile!" Sceptile shouted as he performed a front flip upon coming out.
"A Sceptile and Metacross, hope you Hoenn fans out there are watching!"
May and Brendan smiling a little hearing this.
"Go Sceptile!" May screamed.
Sceptile and Metagross stared each other down, Metagross looking more serious while Sceptile smiled.
"Vyle!" Serena shouted, Grovyle coming out of her pokeball with hearts for eyes.
"Right, I guess you want to see him battle." Serena said sweat dropping a little, but still smiling.
"Metagross use Bullet punch!"
"Sceptile use agility and dragon claw!" Sceptile moved with almost unbelievable agility for a pokemon his size, avoiding each blow that came at him. By the end of the strikes, his claws glowing with dragon energy.
"Iron defense!" Metagross covered himself with more metal coating over him. Sceptile slashed Metagross hard with his claws. Metagross grunted, but endured the blows. However, Sceptile's final blow broke through the iron defense and sent Metagross tumbling backwards.
"Tile!"
"Ohh I felt that one from up here folks!" The crowd letting out a cheer for Sceptile as Grovyle steamed up.
"Wow, she's quite, infatuated." Misty said with Serena still sweat dropping.
"Metagross you ok?" Metagross shook his head and got up.
"Sceptile's not going down easy Alain."
"Pika!"
"We'll see about that! Bullet punch!"
"Agility!" Once again Metagross unleashed a storm of punches that Sceptile dodged like a pro. However, this time Alain was ready.
"Ice punch!" Metagross punched the ground, coating it with a layer of ice. Sceptile was able to avoid slipping but struggled to move around.
"Oh no." Ash said.
"Now we've got you! Ice Punch!"
"Dragon claw!" Sceptile tried to counter the ice punch, but the ice went well against the dragon energy and hit Sceptile's stomach hard.
"Now that's a punch folks, and an effective one at that."
"Slam!" Ash shouted. Sceptile hit the ground with his tail upon impact, the blow shattering all of the ice on the field.
"Quick thinking on Ash's part." Brock said.
"But it'll be interesting how he plans to stop another." Brendan said.
"Ice punch!"
"Leaf storm!"
"Tile!" Sceptile roared, a hurricane of leaves raking into Metagross's hard metal body. Normally they would have no effect, but Sceptile's leaves scraped across his body like blades. Metagross grunting in pain as he struggled to move his arms.
"Leaf Blade!"
Sceptile leapt through his hurricane of leaves like a ninja, slashing Metagross twice like a flash. Alain grunting seeing his Metagross in pain.
"Alain do something!" Mairin shouted frantically.
"Meteor mash!" Metagross spinning himself and his arms around. Unfortunately for Sceptile, he had come too close and was hit across the leg by the impact of meteor mash.
Sceptile grunted sliding back across the ground.
"Ice punch!"
"Agility!" Sceptile began evading the blows. That was until he felt a great pain in his leg from the Meteor mash.
"Oh no, look out!"
"Pika!" Sceptile was hit hard in the chin by a second Ice punch, the icy blow filling his senses with intense pain.
"Vyle!" Grovyle shouted frantically in fear for her beloved.
"Come on Sceptile!" Serena shouted.
"Ice punch!"
"Slam underneath!"
Sceptile opened his eyes and ducked under the ice punch. Ensnaring his tail around Metagross's legs. Metagross unwittingly carrying Sceptile around him.
"Dragon claw!"
"Iron-"
"Tile!" Sceptile roared, sending his claws deep into Metacross's face.
"Metagross!" The steel pokemon collapsing onto the ground.
"Meteors is unable to battle!"
"Yes! That's two!" Serena's excitement reaching the brim. Grovyle's face red as she danced around in a loving manner.
"That's two knockouts for Ash! But will he keep this lead, something tells me Alain's got more in store for us!"
"Ash has such a good lead!" Delia said.
"Perhaps, but he shouldn't let his guard down either." Felix said.
"Metagross return."
"Sceptile return."
"Ok where with this Sceptile the last time we battled?"
"I had to give my Kalos pokemon the chance."
"Hmp, he's gotten even better. I need to turn things around, go Tyranitar!"
"Gruuuuooo!" Tyranitar roared, the stadium shaking upon his landing.
"I choose you Noivern!"
"Noi!" The great flying dragon roared , flying hard over Ash and staring down at his opponent.
"A Tyranitar and a Noivern, hold on folks, this battle could shake the stadium."
"Tyranitar use Stone edge!"
"Noivern use bomburst!"
"Noi!" Noivern's speaker ears letting out a series of concussive pulses that exploded around the incoming rocks, breaking them apart into nothing.
"Sandstorm!"
"Hurricane!"
"Gruuuooo!"
"Noi!" Tyranitar attempted to engulf Noivern in a thick wind of sand. But Noivern's hurricane blew the sand away and even moved Tyranitar a little.
"Hyper beam!"
"Dragon pulse!" Both great beasts letting loose their beams of power at each other, but their collision only resulted in mutual attack destruction.
"It's neck and neck folks, neither side is letting the other get ahead."
"Dragon claw!" Ash shouted, Noivern flying down fast for a pokemon his size. Tyranitar was still recharging from the Hyper beam. Alain giving Tyranitar a signal to prepare himself.
"Noi!" Noivern shouted, his claws burying themselves hard into Tyranitar. But Tyranitar didn't move.
"Ice fang!" Tyranitar bit down on Noivern's neck with an icy grip that send shivering agony throughout the dragon pokemon.
"Noi!"
"Noivern hang on!"
"Pikachu!"
"That's it Alain!" Mairin shouted.
"Alain let Tyranitar get hit to use his attack." Misty said.
"He had to know he could endure it." Brock said sounding impressed.
"Noivern use Dragon pulse!"
"Dark pulse!" Before Noivern could let out his attack, Tyranitar's pulse of dark energy carried him back a few feet.
"Now use Stone edge!"
"Hurricane!"
"Noi!" Upon recovering, Noivern let out his hurricane. The great winds blowing the stones every which way but where.
"Dragon pulse!"
"Noivern!" Tyranitar grunting upon feeling the impact of the blow as he was carried back a little.
"Tyranitar Dark pulse!"
"Agility!"
Noivern's agile movement allowed him to evade the dark pulse, but Tyranitar intentionally let it go high, forcing his foe lower.
"Ice fang!" Tyranitar jumped high enough to snatch Noivern's neck again.
"Noi!" Noivern cried, the ice filling every bit of his senses with pain.
"Noivern hold on!" Serena shouted in fear.
"Noivern use Dragon pulse!"
"Noi!" Noivern roared while blasting Tyranitar hard. Ash and Alain watching intensely until the attacks ended with both pokemon unconscious.
"Both pokemon are unable to battle!"
"A double knock out folks! But this still leaves Ash with a commanding lead!"
Gary watched the battle with Leaf and Oak.
"Damn, Ash is doing well so far." Leaf said.
"Yeah, I thought this Alain beat him." Gary said.
"Something tells me we've yet to see his true potential." Oak said.
"Did Diantha really recommend him?" Karen asked before Bruno elbowed her.
"I think he's doing well, this is a case of two very skilled trainers."
"Return." Ash and Alain muttered.
"Excellent job Noivern. Well we have the lead, but Alain is doing to be even more dangerous now."
"Pika." Pikachu said nodding.
Mairin held herself while shaking, Alain not looking scared one bit.
"Go Bisharp!" He shouted, the metal fighter coming out.
"I choose you Heracross!"
"Cross!" Heracross said while flying out.
"Bisharp use swords dance!"
"Heracross Close Combat!" Heracross flew right at Bisharp , preparing his fierce attack.
"Metal claw!"Bisharp attacked strategically, hitting Heracross's blows enough to propel backwards away from the next. Ensuring Heracross couldn't score a decisive blow.
"Woah, that's an interesting tactic." Lucy said.
"No kidding." Brock said worried.
"Bisharp use Swords dance!"
"Mega horn!" Bisharp began powering up, but Heracross's mega horn carried him backwards across the battlefield.
"Metalclaw!"
"Furry attack!" It was now Heracross who unleashed the counterstrikes, hitting Bisharp's elbows and forearms with successive blows to keep him away.
"Well folks, this is intense! Both trainers are using a similar strategy!"
"Bisharp Iron defense!" Bisharp stopped attacking and heightened his defenses, allowing Heracross to hit him. But to Ash's frustration the attack had little effect.
"Guillotine!"
"Dodge it!" Heracross attempted to move, but Bisharp was too close, slashing across Heracross with a single stroke.
"Cross." Heracross muttered falling backwards.
"Heracross is unable to battle!"
The audience now began to applaud for Alain who looked more confident.
"Yes!" Mairin shouted.
"And a nasty Guillotine scores a decisive knock out folks."
Serena sighed, knowing Ash's win wouldn't be so easy.
"Heracross return, I'm sorry I let that happen Heracross. We need to end this quick, I choose you Hawlucha!" Ash shouted. Hawlucha came back out and gave his pose despite the poison.
"Looks like this flashy Hawlucha is back folks. But can he endure that poison?"
"Bisharp use metal head!"
"Karate chop!" Bisharp attempted to bash Hawlucha back, but Hawlucha's blow sent Bisharp stumbling backwards.
"Another!" Ash shouted, Alain looking frantic when he saw Hawlucha leap forward. However, the poison began to take it's toll, causing Hawlucha to miss.
"Oh no." Ash said with Pikachu nervously sweat dropping.
"Guillotine!"
"Karate chop!" Hawlucha came back, bashing Guillotine to the side. This giving Alain and the audience a great surprise.
"Hawl!" Hawlucha roared, his second strike about to hit until the poison's effect returned.
"Lucha." He grunted.
"Metal claw!" Bisharp slashed Hawlucha across his stomach. The fighting bird collapsing onto the ground.
"Hawlucha is unable to battle!"
"Incredible folks, Alain has just tied things up" The audience giving him more support.
"Well look at that." Lance said.
"Yes! Yes!" Mairin screamed while leaping up and down.
"He's not going down without a fight it seems." Dawn said.
"Come on Ash don't let this get to you!" Serena shouted.
"Hawlucha return, it wasn't your fault. Ok let's get him this time. I choose you Sceptile!"
"Tile!" Sceptile shouted in a fighting stance.
"Bisharp use swords dance and Metal claw!"
"Agility!"
Despite his hurt leg, Sceptile was once again able to evade each incoming strike like a pro. Bisharp getting irritated with his foe's speed.
"Slam!"
"Tile!" Sceptile shouted, his tail hitting Bisharp's stomach hard enough to lifted him up.
"Dragon claw!" Sceptile propelled up to slash Bisharp back into the ground.
"Bisharp is unable to battle!"
"Yes!" Serena shouted.
"Vyle!"
"Well folks looks like this Sceptile doesn't take well to his friends getting knocked out."
"Bisharp return, magnificent work. Go Unfezant!"
The Unova bird flew out over his trainer and let out a happy pose.
"Tailwind and Feather dance." Unfezant's wind began blowing white feathers all over the battlefield with Sceptile unable to avoid them. His attack power dropping sharply.
"Sky attack!"
"Slam him down!" Sceptile tried to leap up, but his weakened attack power coupled with the tailwind kept him from reaching Unfezant in time and was hit hard.
"Sceptile!"
"Pika!"
Sceptile landed on his back with swirly eyes.
"Sceptile is unable to battle!"
"Just like that Sceptile is out too, trainer Alain has come back hard folks!"
"Yes! That's my Alain!" Mairin shouted.
"Vyle!" Grovyle's eyes filled with tears as she nearly fell over, Serena helping her stay up.
"It's ok Grovyle." She said.
"Ash really needs to focus now." Brock said.
"Sceptile return, you got us this far Sceptile, we'll finish it. I choose you Unfezant!" Alain and his Unfezant in surprise seeing Ash's female Unfezant come out.
"Fez?"
"Fez." Ash's Unfezant chirped, flying over him and giving a wink to Alain's unfezant.
"Fezzzzz!" Alain's Unfezant squawked, his eyes turning to hears and his face red.
Many began laughing while Alain sweat dropped.
"Unfezant not now! Snap out of it!"
"Fez!" He squawked doing just that.
"It's a battle of Unfezant folks."
"Feather dance!"
"Hyper beam!"
Ash's Unfezant let out an orange beam of power , shocking Alain and his Unfezant. The blast burning apart the incoming leaves as the male Unfezant narrowly avoided the blast.
"He's not messing around. Unfezant use Air slash!" The male Unfezant flew fast at Ash's female who was still recharging from Hyper beam.
"Detect!" Unfezant surprised the audience at her recovery rate and let out a shine from her left eye. Ash's Unfezant avoided the Air slash with a swift movement, putting herself behind the male.
"Steel wing!"
"Un!" The female squawked, her wings shining with metal and punished the male with two swift blows across his face.
"Tailwind!"
"Fez!" The make squawked. A powerful backwind carrying him around the air away from the female.
"Glide and use roost!" The male Unfezant closed his eyes with green healing power filling his senses with an easing relief. The tailwind carrying Unfezant without having to fly himself.
"Razor wind!" Ash's Unfezant attempted to hit her foe with a sharp gust of wind. But tailwind was able to keep the other Unfezant safe as his roost completed.
"That roost just undid Steel wing, looks like trainer Ash is back to square one."
"Not yet, Unfezant use razor wind!"
"Keep riding tailwind and use Sky attack!" Alain's Unfezant continued riding his tailwind, allowing him to avoid the razor wind and prepare for Sky attack.
"Now I've got you, Hyper Beam!" Unfezant propelled himself forward , but did so at a speed that prevented him from changing directions. By riding in the wind, Ash and his Unfezant had been able to see his path and where he'd be for Sky attack.
"Fez!" Ash's Unfezant squawked, her hyper beam hitting Alain's Unfezant head on. Despite this, the male continued forward, shocking Ash, Unfezant , and Pikachu.
"What!?" Alain smiled, his Unfezant hitting Ash's hard and sending her tumbling down to the ground.
"Fez." She said with swirly eyes on the ground.
"Unfezant is unable to battle!"
"No way." Serena said in great concern.
"Yes that's my-" Mairin started, Gary now looking a bit concerned until he saw the male drop like a rock. Alain's Unfezant landing right next to Ash's.
"Well how about that folks, a double knock out, looks like Hyper Beam was too much for him. It's down to one on one now!"
Ash and Alain stared intensely at each other, both knowing already who the other would choose. Alain holding his pokeball close.
"This is it partner, we've beaten him before. But we've also seen what they can do, remember our promise, one day be the greatest mega partners in the world. If what we know about them is true then this is the next great step towards our ultimate goal." Alain said as he looked up at Daniel's box.
"So let's do it then, go Charizard!" Alain's Charizard came out and landed hard, giving a loud growl while holding his wings out.
Ash held his own pokeball close to him and Pikachu.
"Let's do our best, remember what we've learned." Ash smiled.
"I choose you Charizard!" Ash's own Charizard took the field, the ground shaking upon his landing.
"Grauuuuuuu!" Charizard roared, rattling many teeth in the audience.
"Grauuuu!" Charla roared trying to support her mate.
Daniel and Lance took particular interest in this, Daniel's Charizard having come out in preparation.
"Grauuu." The charizard growled.
"Looks like someone wants to see his student battle." Daniel said.
"I've heard Alain's Charizard is legendary, but I've also seen Ash's. This ought to be stunning." Lance said.
"Charizard vs Charizard, except a field on fire folks, this is going to be incredible!"
The two Charizards had seen each other battle, but now took measure of the other. Both were roughly the same size, with Ash's having more visible muscle mass to him. Alain and his own charizard looked unfazed but inside had some concerns. Both suspecting correctly that Ash's charizard had been trained by Daniel's.
"If this is his student, then we really have to beat him now." Alain said, his Charizard growling in agreement.
"Let's go! Charizard use Flamethrower!"
"Inferno!" Both Charizards kicked off from the ground and flew like the wind. Alain's breathed a great jet of fiery punishment. Ash's Charizard increased his own tail flame's size, the flames emerged from his mouth like a steaming train. Alain's charizard felt the heat from the incoming inferno, his own fire getting engulfed easily.
"Dodge it!" Alain's Charizard performed a great feat of agility in the air to avoid the inferno, coming down right at Charizard from above.
"Thunder Punch!"
"Dragon claw!" Ash's Charizard making a sharp-angled movement. Both Charizards clashing with Ash's charizard grabbing Alain's Charizard's wrists. Alain's Charizard growling with the intensity of fire, Ash's Charizard growled back but did so while smiling.
The audience watching closely while both Charizards attempted to overpower the other.
"You can do this Charizard!" Mairin shouted.
"Go for broke Charizard!" Serena shouted.
Alain grit his teeth when he saw Ash and Charizard share an aura gaze. Alain soon saw his Charizard's wrists get moved back. Charizard amazed at the strength of his opponent.
"No you don't, Steel wing!" Alain's Charizard coated his wings in a shiny layer of metal. Snarling in his sharp movement that allowed him to break free of the grip and push the second Charizard's claws up.
"Now we've got you, thunder punch!"
"Dragon claw!" much to the audience and Alain's shock, Ash's Charizard used his wings and a sharp jump to get his feet claws high enough to reach the thunder punch.
Alain speechless as he saw Ash's Charizard grab onto his Charizard using his feet and flip him to the side.
Alain's Charizard grunting, but still managing to catch himself using his wings and land on his feet.
"What a move folks!"
Daniel's Charizard nodding in a proud manner. Felix doing the same.
Alain couldn't help but smile in admiration.
"Where was he during our battle in Kalos? He's got to be your strongest pokemon."
"Charizard is as well trained as any of my pokemon." Ash said, Charizard giving a similarly humble look.
"Charizard and I are ready for the real battle to begin, how about you?"
Ash and Charizard smiled.
"We were waiting for you to start."
Both touched their keystones, the audience shaking in anticipation. A blue and green sphere forming around both Charizard , revealing mega Charizard X and Z.
"Mega Charizard X and Z folks. You're definitely getting your money's worth tonight!"
Gary let his own Blastoise out, the water starter staring hard at Charizard Z.
"Charizard use Dragon claw!"
"Dragon Claw!" Mega Charizard X and Z clashing together like a pair of flying titans, each clash knocking the other back. Charizard Z's blows having more of an impact, but Charizard X moving slightly faster.
"Dragon pulse!"
"Steel wing!" Charizard X used his wings as a shield from the incoming dragon blast, but still felt it's great impact. Sweating in a desperate attempt to keep his wings closed.
"Dragon claw!"
"Dragon claw!" Both Charizards clashing again, this time resulting in a fast paced brawl between the two. Each effectively parrying the other's blow with their own. Charizard X's blow were faster, but Z's more powerful. Neither Charizard able to land a decisive blow on the other, that was , until Charizard Z hurled his tail around , crashing into Charizard X like a makeshift dragon claw.
"Charizard!" Alain shouted.
Charizard Z now smelled blood in the water.
"Dragon claw!"
"Pikachu!"
"Grauuu! Grauuuu!" Charizard Z snarled in a fury, raking his heavy but agile claws into Charizard X three times, carrying him far into the air.
"Now Blast Burn!" Charizard Z flew directly over X. His tail flame exploding around him in preparation for the fire bomb. Alain forced to cover his eyes from the heat, others in the audience doing the same.
Upon the departure of the smoke, Alain saw his Charizard slowly arise from the ground. The Charizard X breathing heavily while covered in soot.
"Charizard X just won't give up!" Serena and the others impressed by his resolve. None so more than Ash and his own Charizard.
"Just as determined as I remember."
"We won't give up Ash! Charizard Dragon Claw!" Charizard X letting out his dragon roar. Tough claws coating his paws with even more punishing power.
"He's going for broke, let's do the same! Draconic style like Circe!"
"Grauuu!" Charizard Z roaring in agreement. Alain now seeing Ash and Charizard's eyes glow with aura again, only this time an emerald green. Charizard's body soon being coated in similar aura.
Felix sat up upon seeing this.
"He mastered Draconid style Aura! I wasn't even able to do that." Felix said. He looked over at Daniel's box.
The world champion smiling with his Charizard.
"That's my student."
Both Charizards flew in a flash of dragon energy, clashing one final time as both their attacks hit their mark. Ash felt Charizard grunt and take the attack hard. Charizard X's blow dealing a great amount of pain to him. Despite this, he managed to maintain his composure, Charizard X hit the ground hard, reverting to his normal form with swirly eyes.
"Charizard." Alain said in a reasonable but sincere tone.
"Alain's Charizard is unable to battle, the winner is Ash Ketchum!"
"That's game , set, and match folks this Semi finals round is over!"
Serena cheered with a red face, her joy flooding her very being. Ash's friends standing up while doing the same.
"Alain." Mairin said curling up with tears coming out of her eyes. The young woman comforted by her Chespin and Leaf who patted her shoulders.
"That boy. I suppose you got what you wanted Gary." Oak said.
Gary couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, this is exactly how it was meant to be." Blastoise and Gary looking at each other before locking wrists.
Charizard nearly crashed down into Ash, staying in his Mega form while he pinned Ash down and licked him. Alain slowly helped his own Charizard up.
"Are you ok?" His Charizard nodding.
"I guess we still have a lot of work to do. But it just means we have a path to follow, and a goal to reach."
His charizard giving a hopeful smile while nodding. Ash's Charizard reverted to his normal form, getting up with Ash and Pikachu to meet up.
"Alain."
"Ash." Both trainers clasping hands.
"I guess this makes us tied." Ash said.
"I guess so, next time I better prepare my team better."
"We'll be ready." Ash said returning Alain's confident smile.
That night, Serena and Leaf stood on a pair of stages set up in the middle of the stadium.
Serena stood in her Kalos Dress, Absol and Pangoro beside her.
On the second stage was Leaf in her Kanto kimono. Venusaur and Butterfree beside her. The audience around them waiting anxiously for the performances to start.
"Begin!"
"Time to be amazed!" Leaf shouted while touching her keystone. She began dancing as Venusaur transformed into Mega Venusaur.
"Vine Whip!" Mega Venusuar roared, using her many vines to lift Leaf into the air. The young woman dancing with her Butterfree high above the stage.
"Free!" Butterfree letting out poison powder into the air with a tailwind to keep it away from Lead. At the same time, Mega Venusaur released sleep powder with petal blizzard, the moves mixing into a colorful and art like display around Leaf who continued dancing with Butterfree.
"That's it Leaf keep it up!" Gary shouted. Serena and her own pokemon watching Leaf intensely.
"She's good, so good." Serena seeing no fear or doubt in Leaf's expression. Her heart pounding every moment , knowing her own turn was coming closer and closer.
"Sol." She heard, looking down at Absol.
"Sol."
"Pang!" Pangoro said lifting Serena up for a moment in her arms. Serena felt her nerves ease up, getting back on her feet with a smile.
Leaf came down with Butterfree and bowed , Venusaur joining them.
"Now for performer Serena!" Serena looked back up at Ash one more time. Closing her eyes as the Kalos music began.
"Let's go!" Serena held her hands out while touching her stone.
"Sol!" Absol cried, leaping over Serena with a colorful sphere around him.
Serena's dance began with mega Absol landing in front of her. The two moving with great energy and equally impressive choreography. Pangoro joined in, coming down with hammer arm. Serena and Mega Absol leapt up onto the arms, Pangoro flipping them both up into the air.
Mega Absol raised his head up for a moment, coming back down with a series of psychic cuts around Pangoro. The great panda pokemon smashing them apart with bullet punch. Each shattered psychic slash shattered into a sparkling psychic display.
Pangoro didn't miss a beat and caught both her partners. Serena performing a front flip with great agility onto the ground. Not waiting a moment while taking Pangoro's hand and dancing more elegantly with her.
All the while Mega Absol used double team, five copies leaping over and through the partners when they made openings. Each Absol coating himself in a shining swords dance.
"She's so beautiful." May said. Dawn almost jealous of how well Serena's routine was going.
Ash's face being a mixture of proud and almost bashful. Lucy noticing Brock tearing up with his hands clasped.
"Brock , again really?"
"It's just so beautiful, Ash displaying such affection. I'm so moved!" Lucy and Misty sweat dropping.
Serena now dancing in front of Pangoro with Mega Absol. A powerful future sight coming down that caught the audience by surprise. In response, Pangoro roared, unleashing an outrage that collided with the incoming future sight, exploding around Serena's team like a series of fireworks.
The judges were in awe seeing this. Dr. Joy dropping her pen.
Now covered in sweat, Serena held out her hands one more time in the finishing pose. The audience showing their praise in a thunderous applause.
Leaf standing just on the other stage with her own team.
"Damn, I'll admit it, that was impressive."
Serena bowed with her pokemon. The judges speaking with each other in a hushed tone. Serena and leaf didn't feel nerves as they waited. Each judge giving their piece and nodding with the others.
"Well ladies and gentlemen, this is a nearly impossible task choosing between these performers. But they've done it. The first Indigo League Grand Ceremonial Performance champion is , Serena Achille!"
Serena had the same sensation as when she won the Sinnoh grand festival and her very first showcase.
"We did it." She said softly.
"Sol!" Absol cried, leaping into Serena's arms while nearly knocking her over. Pangoro sheered with him, lifting both up in her arms.
Leaf looked over at Serena. Both her pokemon doing the same. They could hear Ash and the others cheering even from down there.
She took a deep breath.
"Well I suppose that's that then." Leaf petted both her pokemon. Gary came down to join her, both noticing Ash lift Serena up and plant a passionate kiss on her lips.
"Would you have done that if I had won?"
"Do I need a reason too?" Gary asked before giving Leaf a long kiss.
"No." She said hugging him and smiling.
"I'm sorry babe."
"Eh you can't win them all. Although I will admit I'm even more motivated for you too win."
Gary looked back at Ash.
"You and me both."
Ash has battled and defeated all but Gary, one match remains between him and the elite 4
This has been great being back in Amourshipping, but the next chapter is the last one
I may or may not buy let's go Pikachu since I still think fondly of pokemon yellow, if I like it and movie 21 I may be inspired to write more
Until then, I may try a for Honor fic, I've written a draft of chapter 1 and posted it on Wattpadd under fictionknight2 for anyone interested
So until next time,
Please review, comment, suggest or ask(VIA PM)