The tenth chapter:

The Final Match of the Century!

Ash's POV

As Pikachu and I entered the stadium, I heard the roar of the crowd. The energy in the crowd was huge. As my mind flashbacked to last night, I was introduced to Ranee's parents, Roy and Elizabeth Katina. Nice people.

My mom had also arrived and we filled them in on what had been happening and agreed to keep it quiet about Ranee's plan. Ranee entered the stadium at that moment, forcing me back to the current events. I was in the finals up against Ranee.

Ranee's POV

As I entered the stadium, the roar of the crowd really surprised me. I had never gotten this far before and the energy of it was really getting to me. I was psyched. I couldn't wait to face Ash in a full battle.

Since we had never had just a one-on-one battle, I had no clue what Ash's battle style was and he had no idea what mine was. It was going to be a very interesting battle. At that moment, the announcer started to introduce us to the crowd.

Normal POV

The announcer boomed, "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final match of the Sinnoh League Conference! Today, we have an exciting match up! On the left hand side is Ranee Katina, a coordinator/trainer from Veilstone City trying to reach the very top. But, will she taste victory or will Ash Ketchum, a young budding train from Pallet Town stop her from getting there? Let's watch and see." The battlefield was decided; it was a desert like battlefield. With the field in place, Ranee called on her first Pokémon.

She told Ash, "Here we go and we're not holding back. Sandslash, let's go!" She threw her poke ball and her Sandslash appeared. Dawn got her Pokédex out and looked up Sandslash. The Pokédex chirped, "Sandslash, the mouse Pokémon. If it digs at an incredible pace, it may snap off its spikes and claws. They grow back in a day."

Brock pointed out, "Sandslash is a ground type and it would have an advantage on a desert like battlefield like this." Paul also pointed out, "She wants to give herself plenty enough room to study Ash's battle style." Barry responded, "Oh, yeah. I almost forgot that they never had a one-on-one battle before." Misty thought to herself, 'Come on, Ash. You can do it.' Delia cheered for her son while Roy and Elizabeth cheered for their daughter. Ash got a poke ball ready and said, "Sceptile, I choose you!" He threw his poke ball and his Sceptile appeared. The referee told them, "Ranee has the first attack. Begin!"

Ranee didn't waste any time. She commanded her mouse, "Fury Cutter!" Sandslash ran at Sceptile with amazing speed. Dawn commented, "It is fast." Ash responded, "But, Sceptile is faster. Dodge it!" With ever greater speed, Sceptile dodged the super effective move. Ranee smirked and told Ash, "Nice try but it is going to take more than that to stop Sandslash. Swift!" Sandslash spun around making little stars come out of its body. It hit Sceptile. Ash yelled out, "Sceptile!"

Sceptile was a bit dazed but unhurt. Ranee smiled and responded, "Sceptile has great endurance. But, it won't stand a chance against this. Poison Jab!" Sandslash spun around and made a fist. It came at Sceptile but Ash reacted first. Ash commanded, "Leaf Storm!" Leaf Storm hit Sandslash first. Sandslash went down and it was out. The referee called, "Sandslash is unable to battle! Sceptile wins!" Ranee recalled her Pokémon. She smiled at her poke ball and said, "Great job. Take a nice long rest."

Delia commented, "Sandslash was so fast like Sceptile." Roy nodded and responded, "Well, any of the Pokémon that Ranee leaves in our care get the best of care." Brock seemed impressed and said, "Let's see what Ranee is going to do against Sceptile." Ranee got another ball ready and threw it. Within a flash of light, her Snover appeared. Ash thought to himself, 'She's going with an ice type. What could she be up to?' He went to Sceptile and told it, "Be careful, Sceptile." Sceptile nodded as the referee yelled, "Begin!"

Ash commanded, "Bullet Seed!" Sceptile nodded and the Bullet Seed came straight at Snover. Ranee yelled, "Dodge it!" Snover did as it was told and Ranee ducked the Bullet Seed. Ash perked up and thought; 'Now I know what she wanted! She wanted a Dimensional Scream!' Ranee got back up and smirked. She commanded, "Snover, Ice Beam right at Sceptile's chest!" Snover did as it was told and not only did it cause damage, it froze Sceptile a bit as well! Ash yelled, "Sceptile!"

Sceptile struggled to get freed but Ranee commanded, "Icy Wind!" Snover got in at close range and fired. It froze Sceptile solid and it was down for the count. The referee called, "Sceptile is unable to battle! Snover wins!" Ranee and Snover celebrated as Snover started to glow a bright white light. As Ash recalled Sceptile, he had saw Snover was gone and in its place was Abomasnow. The announcer yelled, "Well, this an interesting turn of events as Snover has evolved into Abomasnow!"

Elizabeth perked up and said, "Well, I wasn't expecting that." Misty knew that Snover was strong from the other day went Ranee used it to save their butts but she never expected…. Ranee got out her purple Pokédex and looked up her newly evolved Pokémon. Her Pokédex chirped, "Abomasnow, the frosted tree Pokémon. It lives a quiet life on mountains that are covered with snow. It hides itself by whipping up blizzards." Ranee smiled at Abomasnow and said, "That's awesome! You evolved into Abomasnow!" Abomasnow smiled. Ash smiled too. This gave him a chance to give Ranee a shock.

She turned to Ash and asked, "So, Ash. Which fire type are you going to use? Torkoal or Infernape?" Ash smirked and answered, "Neither." Ranee perked up as did Paul, Barry, Dawn, Piplup, and Ranee's parents. Brock, Delia, and Misty exchanged smiles. Ranee asked, "Then, who?" Ash threw his poke ball and out popped….Charizard! Dawn perked up and blurted out, "Ash has a Charizard?" Paul yelled, "No way!"

Barry yelled at Misty, Delia, and Brock, "I'm so going to fine you guys for not telling us that!" Everyone sweat dropped as Dawn looked up Charizard in her Pokédex. The Pokédex chirped, "Charizard, the flame Pokémon. Breathing hot, intense flames, it can melt almost anything. Its breath can inflict terrible pain on enemies." Ranee perked up as she studied Charizard. That's when she knew. Her Abomasnow was no match against a Charizard.

The referee called, "Begin!" At that moment, Ranee recalled her Pokémon. Ash perked up as he wondered which Pokémon she could switch Abomasnow for. She got the next poke ball ready and clutched it pretty tight. She whispered, "I'm counting on you my old friend. Bring us victory." With that, she added, "Infernape, let's go!" She threw her poke ball and her starter Pokémon appeared. 'Infernape was Ranee's first Pokémon. No doubt that is going to be an awesome battle.' Ash thought to himself.

He turned to his dragon and asked, "You ready?" Charizard roared, telling Ash that it was ready. Ash commanded, "Dragon Rage!" With that, Dragon Rage headed straight for Infernape. Ranee commanded, "Fire Blast!" The two attacks hit each other head on, creating an explosion.

Announcer: And so, as the battle drags on, Ranee and Ash are both down one Pokémon a piece. Now, with these two fearsome fire types facing off against each other, will Ash prevail or will Ranee? Be here for the next installment!