Part 2 of the semifinals! It's one of battles you've all been waiting for!

To make things interesting (and the chapter longer) I've allowed you to take a peek at what goes on between Danny and his Pokemon when their minds are linked. I think you'll like the mental conversations they have between each other. Their conversations will be in italics, just so you know.

Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Payback Time! Danny Vs. Dash

Dawn and Sam dashed into the locker room to change their clothes. Dawn was disappointed that she lost but she was also happy that she could finally battle Sam.

"I can't believe you underestimated me!" Dawn exclaimed.

"Well, after seeing your Pokémon for the last few days, I didn't expect you to use Mamoswine," Sam shrugged. "That thing can really pack a punch!"

Dawn giggled. "That just proves that I'm tougher than I look," she replied with a wink.

Sam winked back. "That's one mistake I won't make again."

The two walked out of the locker room and met up with Ash, Brock, Danny, Tucker and Jazz.

"Dawn, I've never seen you dress like that," Ash stated.

"You can thank Sam for that," said Dawn. "I didn't think I'd look good in black."

"But I proved her wrong," Sam added.

Jazz then noticed someone walking in their direction. "Hey, there's your friend," she said. Paul walked up to the group. The same cold expression was visible in his eyes.

"Hey Paul," Brock greeted. "What did you think of the match?"

"I'll be honest, it was better than yesterday's battle," Paul answered coolly. He looked at Sam. "While your Tangrowth and Absol are strong fighters, it's best if you got rid of your Houndoom."

"What? Why would I do something like that?" Sam asked angrily.

"Despite the fact that it knows powerful moves, it's not so powerful itself," Paul explained.

Sam growled. "Ember's plenty powerful! The only reason she lost was because of Ambipom's Focus Punch. That move is a Fighting-type which is more powerful on Dark-types. If I knew Ambipom knew that move, I would have chosen a different Pokémon. No offense, Dawn."

Dawn shrugged. "None taken."

Paul glared at Sam. "I hope the rest of your Pokémon are as strong as your Tangrowth and Absol."

Brock and Jazz lunged at Sam before she could land a punch in Paul's face.

"Take it easy, Sam. We're used to it," assured Brock.

"He's not worth it, Sam," said Jazz. "Don't antagonize him further."

Sam glowered at Brock. "And you're friends with him how?"

"It's actually more of a rivalry," said Brock.

Paul then approached Danny. "It's not my style to say this but I hope you win the semifinals. I'd hate to see a Pokémon prodigy lose to the local oaf."

"Uh…right," Danny nervously answered. He didn't really know how to reply to Paul's statement.

~0~0~0~

After a quick lunch, the second half of the semifinals was underway. Sam and Dawn watched the tournament from the Pokémon Center where they waited for their Pokémon to recover. Ash, Brock, Jazz, Paul, and Tucker went back to the stands to watch the match.

Danny and Dash came to the field in their costumes. Danny was dressed like he was from the 80s. Dash was dressed like a football player.

"For the second half of the semifinals we have Daniel Fenton against Dashiel Baxter. This will be a three-on-three battle. The battle will end when one Trainer's Pokémon are unable to battle," Lancer announced.

The wheel on the Jumbo Screen spun and landed on Dash's face. Danny gulped. He knew that he had the type advantage but that didn't mean that Dash had some tricks of his own up his sleeve.

"Marowak, hike!" Dash yelled, throwing a Pokéball. A dinosaur-like Pokémon walking on two legs appeared on the battlefield. Its head looked like a skull. It held a bone in its hand.

~0~0~0~

"Marowak, the Bone Keeper Pokémon and the evolved form of Cubone. From its birth, this savage Pokémon constantly carries bones and is skilled at using them as weapons."

"I don't think I can like a Pokémon that uses bones as weapons," Dawn said nervously. "Doesn't it have respect for the dead?"

"I read that Marowak uses the bones of its mother as weapons," Sam said.

"Pip-LUP?"

"Well, as a Cubone it wears its mother's skull as a helmet," Sam defended.

"PIIIPP-LUUUPPP!" Piplup shrieked in fear.

Sam bonked the Penguin Pokémon on the head to shut him up. "Be quiet! It's starting!"

~0~0~0~

Danny's icy blue eyes became neon green as he threw his Pokéball. "Going ghost! Spooky!" Spooky the Gengar appeared in a flash of light. SLURP! He turned and started licking Danny's face affectionately. "Now is not the time or the place! Quit it!" Spooky then went onto the battlefield.

Seeing Spooky's behavior made Danny more nervous about how Paul would think about him. The way Paul acted reminded Danny of Simon Cowell for some reason. Only Paul was ten times meaner and didn't have a sense of humor.

Coach Teslaff blew her whistle signaling the beginning of the battle.

"You're going down, Fen-turd!" Dash taunted. "Marowak! Use Brick Break!" Marowak pounded his fist on Spooky's head but his fist went right through the Ghost Pokémon. "What the? How could this happen? I thought only Normal-type moves didn't work on Ghost Pokémon."

"Geez, Danny-boy! I know you told me that this guy was stupid but I didn't think he'd be THIS stupid! Doesn't he know that Fighting-type moves do nothing to me?"

"I told you he was a moron, Spooky. You'd think he'd know that! Let's start nice and slow then go from there."

"You got it."

Danny's green eyes flashed. "Let's warm this up with Lick attack!"

Spooky literally licked Marowak's face sending chills down its spine.

Dash noticed Danny's change in eye color and freaked out. "What the heck is up with your eyes, Fenton? You just went from geek to freak!"

Danny's eyes flashed again in anger. "I'll show you how tough this freak really is! Spooky! Use Night Shade!" Dark energy blasted from Spooky's eyes directly at Marowak.

Dash gritted his teeth. "You're going down, freak! Marowak, use Bonemerang!"

Marowak threw its bone at Spooky who quickly jumped into the air and levitated above the ground. Spooky then pulled down his lower eyelid and stuck his tongue out at Marowak.

~0~0~0~

Ash was surprised at Spooky's battle. "Wow! How did Spooky dodge Bonemerang like that?"

"It's the ability called Levitate," Jazz explained. "Pokémon with this ability are completely immune to all Ground-type attacks."

"And since Dash is a complete nincompoop who doesn't know about that, Danny has the upper-hand," Tucker finished confidently.

"Remember, Ash? You've seen something like this during your battle with Fantina," Brock reminded.

~0~0~0~

Seeing that Marowak was going nowhere with this, Dash called Marowak back. He then released a navy blue Pokémon with a swirl on its belly. "Poliwrath!" it cried.

Dawn pulled out her Pokedex.

"Poliwrath, the Tadpole Pokémon and the evolved form of Poliwhirl. With its extremely tough muscles, it can keep swimming in the Pacific Ocean without tiring."

"And I thought swimming across the English Channel was a challenge," Dawn muttered.

~0~0~0~

"Looks like the moron has a brain after all! He actually switched out!"

"That doesn't mean he can still pack a punch. Let me bring in Youngblood. You need to save your strength. Knowing Dash, he'll probably use Machamp."

"Good idea. I've got a bone to pick with that four-armed freak anyway! Switch me out."

Danny pulled out Spooky's Pokéball. "Spooky, come back," he said as Spooky disappeared back into its Pokéball. Danny then pulled out a Friend Ball. "Youngblood, it's your turn!" The Puppet Pokémon appeared in a flash of light.

Dash laughed. "That Ghost Pokémon is as puny as you are, Fen-toad! This will be easy! Poliwrath, use Bubblebeam!" Bubbles shot out of Poliwrath's swirl and hit Youngblood.

"Youngblood! You okay?" Danny asked in concern. Youngblood nodded and readied itself to attack. "In that case, start with Will O' Wisp!" Like Lilith (who was watching the match on TV at home), blue tongues of fire appeared around Youngblood. He then launched them at Poliwrath, burning him.

"Ha ha! Take that you tadpole out of water!"

"Actually, the proper term is 'fish out of water'."

"Really? 'Fish out of water'? But Poliwrath is a Tadpole Pokémon."

"I didn't come up with the name of the species. Ask someone else."

"Now, Poliwrath, use Water Pulse!" Dash ordered. A sphere of water was launched at Youngblood from the swirl on Poliwrath's belly. A fire briefly flashed on Poliwrath's body.

"Ha! I knew that was a good idea!" Danny exclaimed. "Shock Wave, Youngblood!" Electricity flashed from Youngblood's body and launched it onto Poliwrath doing massive damage.

"Thank you, Tucker for giving me TM34 for my birthday," Danny muttered to himself.

"Come on, Poliwrath, use Focus Punch!" Dash ordered. One of Poliwrath's fists lit up and tried to punch Youngblood but to no avail. Danny face-palmed.

"Either he's never seen a Shuppet like me before or he doesn't know I'm a Ghost-type."

"Or both."

"Youngblood, finish it off with Shadow Ball!" Danny ordered. A shadowy sphere appeared from the tip of Youngblood's horn. He then launched it at Poliwrath. At this point, the Tadpole Pokémon looked dead on its feet.

"I'm not quitting yet!" yelled Dash. "Now, Poliwrath, use Bubblebeam again!" Bubbles once again shot out of Poliwrath's swirl, hitting Youngblood.

"Keep going, Youngblood! Finish it off with another Shock Wave!" A wave of electricity came out of Youngblood's body, shocking Poliwrath and knocking it out.

Coach Teslaff blew her whistle. "Poliwrath is unable to battle! Shuppet wins!"

The crowd cheered. It seemed that more than just Danny's friends and family were rooting for him. Some of the nerds and geeks were also cheering for Danny. Some even brought banners to show their support. Danny wasn't the only one who had a score to settle with Dash.

"You're going to pay for this, Fenton!" Dash yelled as he called Poliwrath back. He then called Marowak back into the battlefield.

Teslaff blew her whistle. "And begin!"

"Marowak! Use Bone Rush!" ordered Dash. Marowak charged at Youngblood and swung his bone like a baseball bat at Youngblood.

"No! Youngblood!" cried Danny. Youngblood caught himself before hitting the ground. "Alright then. Use Night Shade!" Youngblood launched dark energy from his eyes at the Bone Keeper Pokémon.

"Marowak, use Bone Rush again to deflect it!" said Dash. Marowak advanced towards Youngblood, twirling his bone like a baton as he went. When he got close enough, he struck Youngblood again, knocking him out.

Teslaff blew her whistle again. "Shuppet is unable to battle! Marowak wins!"

"Ha! In your face, Fen-turd!" taunted Dash.

Youngblood came to and started crying. Danny shook his head and sighed. "It is fair, Youngblood. Dash won fair and square. How about you rest?" Youngblood returned to his Friend Ball. Danny then pulled out another Pokéball. "Vortex, I need you next!" The Drifblim appeared in a flash of light.

Teslaff blew her whistle. "And begin!"

"Vortex, use Shadow Ball now!" Danny exclaimed. A shadowy sphere appeared in front of Vortex's face and then launched it at Marowak. "Bulls-eye!"

"Marowak, use Bonemerang!" Marowak threw its bone at Vortex who simply floated a little higher from the ground and the attack missed him completely. "What? You gotta be kidding me!"

Danny, unimpressed with Dash's lack of knowledge, looked bored out of his mind. "I so don't have time for this," he said dully. "Vortex, use Shadow Ball again."

Vortex launched another Shadow Ball again hitting Marowak yet again.

"I'm not done yet!" yelled Dash. "Marowak, use Bonemerang again!" Marowak threw his bone again.

"Vortex, use Ominous Wind on the bone!" said Danny. Vortex blew purple wind at the bone, blowing it back at Marowak. The bone hit Marowak squarely on its forehead, knocking it out.

Teslaff blew her whistle again. "Marowak is unable to battle! Drifblim wins!"

The crowd cheered again. Vortex and Danny shared a high-five. Dawn and Sam bumped fists. Brock and Tucker were dancing in the stands. Ash, Maddie and Jazz were trying to keep Jack from cheering like a maniac and causing a scene.

Dash cursed and called Marowak back. "It's now or never, Machamp!" The four-armed Pokémon appeared on the battlefield.

Teslaff blew her whistle. "Begin!" Now Danny's friends, family, and even Team Rocket were chewing their fingernails as the match began.

"Vortex, return!" Danny called. Vortex returned to its Pokéball. Danny then pulled out another Pokéball. "Spooky, come back out!" The Gengar appeared in the battlefield. He was going to lick Danny again but when he saw Machamp, he stopped and narrowed his eyes in the Fighting-type's direction.

"This is for all those pranks that stupid Ghost Pokémon pulled on me after all these years!" Dash cried.

"Gar?" asked Spooky. "Gengengengar, Gengargar!"

Danny frowned. "Yeah! Spooky didn't pull pranks on you! He only scared you so you'd stop picking on me!"

"Gar!" Spooky nodded.

"No one messes with me! Machamp, use Foresight!" yelled Dash. Red beams of light shot out of Machamp's eyes. They hit Spooky but he wasn't hurt.

"Gar?"

"What did Machamp do to me?"

"Foresight. It makes Ghost Pokémon vulnerable to physical attacks like Fighting-types and Normal-types."

"Now, Machamp! Use DynamicPunch!" ordered Dash. Bluish-white aura appears in Machamp's fists. He punched Spooky with one of them, causing damage and confusing him.

"Spooky?"

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G…."

Danny's already green eyes flashed again. "Spooky, snap out of it!" Spooky blinked a couple of times and snapped out of his confusion.

"What the heck did you do, Fenton?" asked a bewildered Dash.

"It's called the element of surprise," Danny replied. "Spooky, Giga Drain!"

Spooky's tongue shot out of his mouth and wrapped around Machamp's waist. The tongue as well as Machamp's body glowed bright green. Spooky was draining Machamp's strength.

"Machamp, use Karate Chop on that stupid tongue!" Machamp literally karate chopped on Spooky's tongue causing him to let go. Spooky's poor tongue dangled from his mouth in pain.

"Don't give up, Spooky! Use Night Shade!" Danny ordered. Dark energy shot out of Spooky's eyes and hit Machamp.

"Machamp, use Cross Chop!" yelled Dash. Two of Machamp's arms cross and began to glow. He then started to charge at Spooky.

"It's now or never, buddy. Let's use your new friend's strategy."

Danny got Spooky's message and nodded. "Spooky, dodge and use Lick!" Spooky hopped out of the way and licked Machamp's back, sending a chill down his spine and stopping him in his tracks. Spooky gagged.

"Yuck! Tastes like beef jerky, sweat and adrenaline! Doesn't this guy ever shower?"

"Wash your tongue later! Focus!"

"Let's wrap this up with Night Shade!" Dark energy once again shot out of Spooky's eyes. It struck Machamp and knocked it out.

Coach Teslaff blew her whistle and waved the flag in Danny's direction. "Machamp is unable to battle! Gengar wins which means Daniel Fenton will proceed to the final match tomorrow!"

Half the student body erupted with cheers (mainly the ones who are below the A-listers). Danny was too overcome with excitement to realize that his next opponent was going to be Sam.

Eeeek! The finals are coming! Now it's time to start placing you bets, people! Who will be victorious? Sam or Danny?

More coming your way!