Hey guys I am back with another chapter of Battles of the Past. I am really excited about the rest of the story and truly think that it will provide an excellent ending to my first fanfic (fingers crossed). Again, as before, please review if you have any comments, concerns, likes, dislikes or anything you think can help my writing. I love feedback!
Now sit back, relax and enjoy!
Chapter 20
Ash held a pokeball in his hand as his fingers traced the button that would enlarge the device and begin the battle. The world seemed to stop and all noise disappeared into a void leaving silence. He took in Giovanni's demeanor. He was tense, muscles shaking while his eyes showed anger and hatred.
Ash's breathing intensified as he faintly heard the words of the ref to reveal their first choices. He had made his game plan for the battle but he knew it would all go down the drain once the battle had started. This was it: everything rode on the next few hours. He was ready. This ends now.
Giovanni let out a grunt as he threw his first choice into the air. The light dimmed to show a Kalos dragon type. The dragon pokémon stood tall while being predominantly black with a purple belly and purple on its outer wings. It had a red V shape between its eyes that shown bright yellow. White fur could be seen sticking up from his back. In place of ears stood two large speaker like appendages that were teal colored. The dragon and flying type let out a deafening roar at a high pitch. Ash grabbed his ears as the roar caused his ears to ring with the loud cry. He turned back to see Giovanni smirking at him.
"What's wrong Aaron?" he asked sadistically. "Can't handle Noivern's loud roar? Well his bite his worse than his bark."
Ash regained his composure. His finger moved gently over the button before clicking it and expanding the device in his hand. "You haven't heard an actual roar Sakaki," Ash yelled back. "Now it's mine turn to show my own dragon." Ash threw his pokeball with force. Landing with a thud and roar came a predominately navy blue pokémon. Its slender frame betrayed its strength. Along its back came a fin that resembled that of a shark. On its legs and arms were two spikes a piece that showed white and were mirrored by the claws at the end of its wings and feet. Its chest was red while its belly was white. On its muzzle was a yellow star while two torpedo shaped appendages came from either side of its head. It let out a roar as it swung its tail.
Giovanni snarled. His plan to use Noivern's loud cry to disrupt his opponent hadn't work and he himself felt his body shake at the Garchomp that stood before him.
•••••
"Wow two powerhouses to start. These guys are going for broke," Max exclaimed.
"Yeah they're really going for it," Bonnie added.
"We'll of course they are," May interjected. "After all this is the Finals. They both want to leave it all out on the battlefield."
"Yeah I can remember my first Grand Festival Final Stage," Dawn said. "I left it all out against Zoey and it's obvious both these guys are doing the same. They want to win no matter what, leaving it all on the battlefield." The rest of the group hummed in agreement.
Cynthia looked down to the dragons as again she felt her belt begin to shake as her own Garchomp was pleading to be let out so it could battle. She looked back and froze as she saw Lance. He held a serious expression, one that he had never worn before. He had always looked serious but there was always a lighter side in his eyes but not today. Sure the two competitors had frustrated him but the expression showed her they were battling for more than just a championship. Her eyes shifted as she saw a figure fly past him. Serena came to a stop with both her hands clasped in front of her chest. The worry on her face was evident but was quickly whisked away as she took in a deep breath before yelling her heart out.
"Go Aaron," she hollered at the top of her lungs. "You can do it! I believe in you." Serena felt herself go light headed. The mix feelings of fear and anxiety, along with shortness of breath, made her nearly stumble over but she caught herself.
Who are these guys? Cynthia's mind once began to race as she turned to see the battle had begun.
•••••
"Garchomp use Stone Edge," Ash commanded. Garchomp roared as he leapt into the air while circles of small rocks appeared around him before being sent at its opponent.
"Noivern use Hurricane to deflect the attacks then follow up with Boomburst," Giovanni retorted. Suddenly the sound wave pokémon was enveloped in high force winds causing dust and rocks to be kicked up from the stadium floor into the air. The rock type move was sent cascading away in differing directions. Some rocks hit the stadium wall as others found their way into the stands causing shrieks to come from the onlookers who were near the impact. Still others hit the light fixtures causing explosions.
Ash looked as suddenly the winds were sliced through with sound waves that hit his pokémon causing Garchomp to scream in pain as it was sent into the wall of the stadium. "Dragon Rush let's go," Ash responded without hesitation. Bursting from the dust came the mach pokémon covered in a blue energy.
Giovanni didn't falter. "Hurricane again then use Dragon Claw." Again the dragon and flying type summoned hurricane forced winds, which caused Ash's pokémon to lose balance as it traveled through the air. Using the opening, the sound wave pokémon hit the dragon and ground type under the chin with green glowing claws.
Ash responded quickly on his feet. "Dragon Tail into Stone Edge now," he yelled. Garchomp quickly composed himself as he swung his tail, which had also began to glow green. His tail struck his opponent in the head. Noivern cried in pain as it hit the ground with a thud. Garchomp spun around again sending a volley of rocks at the shaken pokémon.
Noivern vanished into a dust cloud. "Noivern answer back with another Boomblast," Giovanni pushed on. The dust quickly dissipated as sound waves raced toward the hovering mach pokémon, sending the Sinnoh native into the adjacent wall.
"Dragon Rush," Ash countered. Again, without hesitation, came the powerful dragon encased in blue. This time Giovanni had not expected such a quick reaction. Noivern took the attack in the chest and gasped, not being able to muster the power for a scream, as the dragon and ground type propelled him into the wall. Garchomp flew from the wreckage. He did a backflip before coming to a stop in front of Ash, panting but still ready for battle.
Noivern groaned while pulling himself off the wall and flying back to his starting position before his master. Noivern winced as he landed, going to a knee briefly before pushing himself back up to a full standing position. Giovanni snarled as he took in the situation. Noivern has taken a lot of damage from a lot of effective attacks, more than Garchomp.
Ash was also assessing his own situation and the battle strategy Giovanni had come up with. Giovanni doesn't want a straight up battle. He's using Hurricane to keep us at bay but once we get in close enough he sends us back while also countering. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fist while eyeing his opponent.
The stadium fell into an eerie silence as the crowds had calmed themselves with the lull in the action.
•••••
"Fascinating," Wallace exclaimed.
"What is it?" Brock asked.
"Both of these trainers are only feeling each other out," the occupants looked on the Hoenn champion in shock while he continued. "They came in looking to get a beat on each other. Aaron wanted to see how Sakaki would deal with a fast paced battle while Sakaki wanted to see how Aaron would react to a counter. They are playing this like two masters of chess."
"Who's winning?" Max questioned.
"Still too early to tell for sure," Wallace answered. "But we'll find out soon who got more from that little scrape."
•••••
Giovanni looked on and smiled as Noivern seemed to have finally caught his breath again before making his next move. "Use Dark Pulse Noivern," he shouted. Noivern shot a beam of dark, intertwining circles at his opponent.
"Sandstorm Garchomp," Ash countered. Garchomp jumped into the air and summoned a column of sand that encased and shielded him from the oncoming attack. The dark type move hit the column of dust and sand causing a minor explosion. When the dust settled Garchomp was nowhere to be seen.
Giovanni growled as his eyes began to scan the skies above the stadium. To his dismay he couldn't find any sign of the mach pokémon. His eyes quickly moved the floor of the battlefield as the ground in front of Noivern began to shake. "Get out of there Noivern," He shouted but it was too late.
"Dragon Rush Garchomp." The ground gave way to the dragon and ground type who had wrapped himself in a blue energy. The attack again hit the sound wave pokémon in the chest, but the Sinnoh pokémon was not done. "Garchomp use Dragon Tail then into a Stone Edge," Ash encourage his pokémon as he pushed his advantage on. Garchomp jumped back a bit causing the blue aura to disperse before an empowered tail hit his opponent. The attack hit home and sent the Kalos pokémon skidding across the ground only to disappear in a barrage of rocks.
"Noivern use Giga Impact," Giovanni roared. His roar was mirrored by a shriek of acknowledgement from his pokémon. Noivern launched himself from the ground toward the shocked pokémon.
Ash stood in amazement as the bat-like pokémon nailed his dragon in the chest with the powerful normal type attack. Garchomp and Noivern slammed into the stadium wall before Noivern made a quick jump back. The stadium wall began to crumble as Garchomp fell to the ground.
Giovanni smirked when he thought the first round had gone to him but much to his dismay the dragon and ground type rose onto shaking legs before shaking his head and letting out a roar. His eyes then moved to his temporarily immobile pokémon. Noivern was gasping for breath at this point. It seemed it had been pushed to its limits; both pokémon seemed to be standing on will power alone.
Ash shook himself out of his shock before continuing his attack. "Garchomp end this with Stone Edge." Again Garchomp leapt into the air as the rocks appeared around them. He let a roar before sending the attack.
"Hurricane into Boomburst Noivern," Giovanni countered. Noivern summoned the powerful flying attack but unlike before a few of the rocks were able to cut through the strong winds. One rock struck its stomach causing it to lurch forward before another came in to contact with his head forcing it to stumble backwards. It regained its footing and sent to normal type attack. The attack struck Garchomp forcing it back but with less force then previously.
Ash gritted his teeth as Garchomp fell to a knee before standing once again. I have to end this now but I can't get in close. All my straightforward attacks are being sent back. Ash winced as a ray of sunlight hit his eyes. He covered his eyes and looked up. That's it!
"Garchomp use Draco Meter then attack with Dragon Rush," Ash commanded. Garchomp nodded. He began to focus energy in his chest, which glowed orange. He turned his head to the sky before shooting an orange ball of energy into the air. The ball traveled high above the stadium before exploding like a firework. The explosion sent dozens of small spheres plummeting to the earth below. Garchomp, seeing his first attack was successful, leapt at his opponent using the next dragon type move.
"Noivern dodge," Giovanni implored his Kalos pokémon. Noivern frantically spun to and fro in attempts to dodge the meteors that struck the stadium floor. With its attention on the falling spheres it did not notice the dragon and ground type pokémon closing in. Garchomp struck the pokémon in chest while its wings wrapped around the reeling pokemon's body. Garchomp then threw his opponent to the ground before rolling away from his opponent. Noivern opened his eyes only to close them again when he saw a sphere collide with him.
The dust settled after the collision to reveal a knocked out flying and dragon type. Garchomp roared with pride as Giovanni silently returned his fallen pokémon to its pokeball. He snarled as he turned to the still celebrating Sinnoh pokémon.
•••••
Serena jumped and shouted with glee from the front row of the presidential box. She had managed to sneak her way into the front row and sit next to Gary. "Go Aaron you can do it! Woo," she shouted with all her might.
Gary smiled when he saw his friend jumping up and down next to her. "It seems Aaron has gotten the better of Sakaki." His smile didn't last long though.
"I wouldn't be too sure of that," Diantha spoke. The rest of the group turned to the champions who were all nodding their heads in approval.
"What do you mean?" Serena questioned. "Wallace even said that it would be clear who got more out of their first engagement and it was Aaron."
"I did say that," Wallace answered, "but Diantha is right. Even though Aaron did manage to win, the battle was still back and forth until the very end."
"What does that mean?" Misty asked.
"It means these two titans are just warming up." The group turned to Lance who still stood in the back. The Kanto and Johto champion didn't look impressed, rather he stood emotionless as his eyes gazed onto the battlefields below. "No these guys have a long fight ahead of them. Things are just getting good."
•••••
Giovanni snarled as he enlarged his next choice. He had been outdone; his strategy to stall until a mistake was made had backfired. He looked to Ash who was smiling under his mask. Ketchum had better not get use to being in the lead because it's my turn.
Giovanni quietly threw his pokeball into the air to reveal a water and fighting type. The pokémon stood tall and was primarily blue with a round body. It's arms and legs were blue along with its feet. Its arms were white and resembled boxing gloves while a big, white circle was on its stomach. In the middle of the circle was a continuously growing swirl that moved counter clockwise. The pokémon let out a grunt before lifting his hands into a boxer's stance.
Ash took a look at his ground and dragon type who had started the match for him. Garchomp's breathing had become labored and Ash could tell he was struggling, needing a rest. Ash raised his pokeball and Garchomp disappeared in a red beam.
Ash thanked his loyal pokémon as he clipped the device back to its original spot before enlarging a second. Ash smiled on the pokeball before looking up at his opponent. "Do your best Sceptile," he shouted as he threw the device.
When the light from the device faded, there stood Sceptile. He gave a smirk before opening his mouth and inserting a twig. He saw his opponent and matched its intensity.
"Leaf Blade Sceptile," Ash commanded. Sceptile's two leaves on his arm began to glow green before enlarging. He launched himself at incredible speed at his opponent. He pulled an arm back as he prepared to throw his arm forward. He threw the attack forward but was stopped in mid swing. Ash and Sceptile stood shocked as Poliwrath held the glowing appendage with one arm.
"Ice Punch." Giovanni smirked as he heard the cry of pain come from the forest pokémon.
Sceptile skidded back before being hit again, this time under the chin. He flew up into the air before landing on his back. He quickly rolled to the side to avoid yet another punch. He pushed himself off the ground and jumped back to create space between him and his opponent. Ash's mind began to work at a mile a minute trying to figure out a strategy.
"Ice Beam," Giovanni ordered as he sense the slight hesitation in Ash's commands.
"Dodge it Sceptile then follow up with Bullet Seed," Ash countered. Sceptile jumped and ran to the side of the incoming light blue beam. The beam followed the forest pokémon. Sceptile opened its mouth, releasing small, glowing seeds. The glowing seeds hit the water and fighting type but the weak grass attack seemed to have little effect.
"Jump and Slam," Ash began to press on further. Sceptile gathered himself before leaping into the air just as the beam of ice came to his position. He did a graceful front flip before bringing his large tail down in an attempt to strike his opponent in the head. Again the Kanto pokémon caught the incoming attack.
Giovanni smirked. "Seismic Toss." Poliwrath jumped into the air with Sceptile's tail still within his hands. Once he got to the apex of his jump, he brought the his hands above his head and threw the Hoenn starter to the ground. Sceptile rapidly spun before striking the ground with powerful force.
Ash quickly retrieved Sceptile's pokeball from his belt as he heard the next command.
"Ice Punch Poliwrath," Giovanni commanded calmly. Poliwrath plummeted to the ground with a glowing fist, prepared to finish his opponent. He threw his fist forward just as his opponent disappeared beneath him. Giovanni looked to Ash and snarled when he saw the trainer return the device to his belt. "Coward," he spat.
"I pick my battles Sakaki," Ash responded, "and that was not a battle to continue. Don't worry though; I'm not backing down. Pikachu it's your turn." Pikachu cried out as he leapt forward onto the battlefield with sparks flying from his red cheeks.
"Fine by me. It will be better to get your best out of the way early," Giovanni exclaimed. "Poliwrath use Focus Blast." Poliwrath put his hands together and began to form a white shining ball between his hands. He threw his hands forward, releasing the attack.
"Quick Attack into Iron Tail," Ash countered. Pikachu sprinted at the attack with white streaks following him before vanishing and appearing above his attacker. He threw his glowing tail down hitting the vulnerable pokémon in the head. "Thunderbolt now," Ash continued his commands. Pikachu bounced off the water and fighting type's head and released the powerful electric type attack, which caused an explosion. Pikachu jumped out of the smoke to be clear of any possible incoming attack.
"Wooden Arm," Ash was stunned by the attack called. Suddenly from behind the smoke came a glowing green arm that connected with the electric mouse's stomach causing it to crash into the stadium wall. Ash turned back to the battlefield once he saw that Pikachu could still compete.
When the smoke cleared the Kanto pokémon had been replaced with a Kalos ghost and grass type. The pokémon resembled a giant tree. For its feet it used six root-like legs. Its arms were large branches with grass at the wrists. The bark of the pokémon was separated at two places along its trunk with both showing a black center. The top served as its mouth with a black circle with a red light above it for its eyes. On its head was what looked like a crown with the three small branches and a tuft of grass in the middle.
"And you called me a coward Sakaki," Ash growled.
"You take your advantages when you can get them," Giovanni said amused. "You of all people should know that by now."
"Pikachu use Volt Tackle," Ash shouted. Pikachu cried out as he became enveloped in a yellow aura. He took off at his opponent as the ground shattered around him.
"Fool. Trevenant use Wood Hammer again," Giovanni ordered. The elder tree pokemon's arm began to glow green before slamming it into the ground.
Ash smiled as he saw his opening. "Pikachu jump and spin and use Iron Tail let's go." Pikachu jumped and spun as the attack hit the ground. He had managed to dodge the attack and the spin caused him to stay close to Trevenant. The electricity encircling his body quickly dispersed as he twisted his body and struck the ghost and grass type in the head with his empowered tail.
Trevenant yelled in pain as it hit the ground. It shook its head and rose again with a mighty roar.
"Pikachu return," both Pikachu and Giovanni looked over to the mask trainer with curiosity when he gave the command. "Sorry buddy but most of your attacks won't be too effective against this choice." Pikachu lowered his head as he scampered back to the trainer's box to take a seat next to Ash and Lucario.
Ash reached down and unclipped another pokeball before expanding it. "Garchomp I need you again," Ash yelled as he threw the device to reveal the Sinnoh pokémon again. Garchomp came out with a roar but Ash saw the pained expression in its once mighty cry. "Garchomp I need everything you got." Garchomp turned and smiled while nodding his head before turning back to face his opponent.
"Trevenant use Shadow Ball let's go," Giovanni shouted. The elder tree pokémon created a black ball in one of its arms before launching it at his target.
"Dodge Garchomp then use Draco Meteor," Garchomp flew into the air before releasing the attack high above the stadium. The attack exploded causing more meteors to plummet to the ground. Trevenant then vanished as multiple spheres collided with the grass and ghost type.
Garchomp lowered itself before suddenly being wrapped in green glowing vines and crying out in pain as they constricted. He fought and struggled to escape but to no avail.
"Wood Hammer," Giovanni commanded. From the dust came the Kalos pokémon with a glowing green fist.
Ash had to think quickly. "Crunch Garchomp," he pleaded. Garchomp's teeth began to glow white as the attack hit its chest. As his head shot forward he buried his teeth into the bark that made up the pokemon's arms. Trevenant cried out in pain as he began to try and shake loose the ground and dragon type.
"Dragon Tail Garchomp," Ash commanded hoping his dragon had managed to maintain consciousness. Garchomp's tail began to weakly glow green before letting go of his opponent and twisting his body so his tale collided with his opponent's head. Ash looked in horror as he saw Garchomp's body go limp and fall to the ground.
"Trevenant use Wood Hammer again," Giovanni shouted in frustration.
"No Garchomp," Ash yelled as he saw the attack land before the Sinnoh pokémon even had a chance to hit the ground. Garchomp was sent careening into the stadium wall and it was clear he had been unconscious before the last attack had even hit.
•••••
Serena felt a lump in her throat form as she heard Ash cry out to his pokémon. No, no this can't be happening. She lifted a trembling hand to her lips before shuttering at a gently touch. She turned to Gary who gave her a smile.
"Sit down Serena," he said calmly. "The battle is young still. Garchomp took heavy damage in his first fight. I'm sure Aaron knew that and had wanted to save his other pokémon for later."
"Y-You sure?" she managed to mutter.
Gary nodded. "Yeah trust me Aaron will be alright."
"He's right," the pair turned to where the reassuring voice came from. Cynthia sat calmly on the opposite side of the aisle of them. "Garchomp knew he didn't have much left but he still pushed on. Just goes to show how much Aaron's pokémon love him. He'll be fine. Gary is right, the battle is still young."
Serena sighed before allowing herself to relax and finally sit down in her chair. She still held a closed fist against her chest but the words of the champion and young professor had helped her to somewhat calm down. Even if it was just a little.
Please pull this out Ash.
•••••
Giovanni looked on as Ash released his next choices. The ground shook as a large, blue alligator like pokémon landed on the ground. The pokémon stood tall with three red spikes coming from its head, middle of its back and the end of its large tail. The bottom part of its jaw was a tan color that was matched by a V shaped tanned area on its stomach. It showed large white claws on both its hands and feet along with its jaws. Much to the surprise of the audience it began to hop from one leg to the other crying out happily as it did a dance.
"Feraligator let's begin." The short statement was all Ash had to make for the whimsical look to be quickly replaced with seriousness. The big jaw pokémon suddenly took a battling stance before letting out a roar.
"Trevenant use Wood Hammer," Giovanni started the attack. The ghost and grass type rushed forward with a green glowing arm.
Ash and Feraligator waited patiently for the slower moving pokémon. Ash waited as the pokémon was in mid swing to call his counter. "Protect into Ice Beam Feraligator," he shouted with force. Feraligator let out a roar before placing both hands in front of its body, encasing it in a yellow shield.
The attack hit but bounced off causing the elder tree pokémon to lose its balance. Feraligator broke the barrier when it saw its opportunity and released a beam of light blue at its opponent. The attack hit causing a cry a pain to come from the Kalos pokémon. Trevenant skidded across the battlefield before coming to a stop. It grimaced as it pulled itself off the floor of the stadium.
"Shadow Ball Trevenant," Giovanni pushed forward.
"Hydro Pump," Ash countered.
The two attacks collided in mid air causing mist to be sprayed everywhere. Ash and Giovanni watched the mist for any possible attack to come from their opponent.
Ash went on the offensive. "Feraligator use Hydro Pump again." Feraligator arched its head back before throwing it forward toward a shadowy object hidden in the mist. The stream of water busted through the mist as a cry came out from the attack hitting its mark.
Giovanni again snarled as he saw the mist hadn't yet settled. "Trevenant use Phantom Force."
"Protect then use Ice Beam again," Ash responded. Again a shield formed around the Johto starter.
Suddenly Trevenant appeared next to Feraligator with a dark energy in its hand. Ash and Feraligator stood in shock as the ghost and grass type shot its arm forward connect the attack with Feraligator's ribs and sending the pokémon skidding across the ground.
Giovanni could now see the look of surprise on his opponent's face. He began to laugh which caused Ash's gaze to shift from his reeling pokémon to him. His brows furrowed as he took in the sight of Giovanni laughing. "Sorry to disappoint you Aaron but Phantom Force is not effected by Protect," Giovanni said amused. "Your plan to stay behind your little defense won't work."
Ash began to feel his heartbeat increase at what the man said. His eyebrows shot up as his mind began to race. What do I do now?
"Wood Hammer Trevenant," Giovanni commanded.
"Protect Feraligator."
Giovanni smiled as he saw his pokémon closing in on its target. "Quick change to Phantom Force." The previous attack was stopped mid swing before the ghost and grass type vanished only to reappear again beside Feraligator.
Ash growled as his pokémon let out a cry before being sent skidding across the battlefield. Feraligator pushed himself up off the ground grimacing with every small action it took. Ash gritted his teeth as he saw Giovanni again commanding the same combination.
An idea came to Ash's head. "Protect Feraligator."
Giovanni smirked as he saw the shield go up. "Finish it Trevenant with Phantom Force." Again the Kalos pokémon vanished. Giovanni's smirk turned to a shocked expression when he heard Ash's command.
"Maintain Protect while spinning and using Ice Beam," Ash shouted. Feraligator nodded and began to fire the beam of ice just as Trevenant appeared within the barrier. The ghost and grass type cried out in pain as the attack hit home, causing the pokémon to crash into the inside wall of the shield.
Giovanni and Ash both looked on, as the half shaped dome became a swirling force of ice and wind. Suddenly a large crack appeared in the shield and ran across the surface before exploding causing the icy winds to blow across the battlefield in a beautiful array of different blue and yellow hues.
Ash didn't waste time calling for his next attack. "Hydro Pump and follow up Crunch." Suddenly from the blue and yellow cloud came Trevenant. The pokémon cascaded into the wall followed by the big jaw pokémon with its teeth glowing. The Johto starter grabbed the reeling pokémon by the wrist causing a faint scream of pain before swinging the pokémon above his head and smashing into the ground.
Feraligator put a foot on Trevenant's neck as a jet of water shot up from its tail in a spiral fashion. Its breathing was heavy and multiple scratch marks could be seen on its body but underneath its foot laid an unconscious Kalos pokémon.
Feraligator again hopped on one foot and then another in celebration once his opponent had vanished in a beam of red light. It was happy that it had managed to win the difficult fight.
•••••
"Wow that was beautiful," May muttered through her astonishment. "I'll have to remember that for an appeal round.
"Not if I use it first," Dawn blurted out with a smile on her face.
In the front row Serena sat in her chair as she began to stomp the floor excitedly with her feet. She felt her excitement overwhelm her. She wanted to jump and run out onto the battlefield even though she knew the fight was still going on. Come on Ash keep going! You're almost there.
•••••
Giovanni wordlessly tossed his pokeball back onto the battlefield to reveal his Poliwrath once again. Ash grunted in frustration as Feraligator seemed to be in worse shape then the water and fighting type. Feraligator's demeanor again turned from one of playful innocence to that of a hardened veteran as he eyed his next opponent.
"Poliwrath use Focus Punch," Giovanni commanded. Poliwrath's fist began to glow white before he rushed Feraligator.
Ash didn't hesitate before responding. "Superpower into Aqua Tail." Feraligator began to glow blue before raising a foot up and smashing it into the ground. A giant rock came up from the ground. Feraligator punched the rock at his opponent.
Poliwrath reared back and punched the rock destroying it. The rubble was a distraction as Poliwrath was then smashed by the powerful water attack. Poliwrath managed to stabilize itself and throw his body back at Feraligator with a still glowing hand. Much to Feraligator's surprise he was struck in the stomach and sent flying into the stadium wall, which began to crumble.
Feraligator threw off the rubble as he managed to stand back up. He grimaced; it was obvious he had taken damage from the altercation. Suddenly he vanished back into his device, which Ash held in his hand.
Giovanni again growled. "Stop substituting and stand and fight Aaron."
Ash brushed off the comment as he replaced Feraligator's pokeball for a different choice. "Worry about your own strategy Sakaki and I will worry about mine." Ash threw his next choice in the air to reveal Sceptile once again.
"I see you still have that stubborn streak in you."
"Some habits die hard," Ash smiled. "Sceptile use Leaf Storm." Sceptile encased himself in a tornado of leafs before sending the attack toward the tadpole pokémon.
"Use Ice Beam," Giovanni countered. Poliwrath let the light blue beam go against the powerful grass attack. The attack went through the leafs causing a mist of green and blue to cover the battlefield.
"Leaf Blade now Sceptile," Ash exclaimed. Sceptile cried out and dashed through the cover of green and blue as he raced to his opponent. He closed in as his leaf appendages began to glow green. He pulled back and threw his arm forward toward the back of the Kanto pokémon. Before the attack could land the appendage was grabbed by Giovanni's pokémon.
"You'll never learn Aaron," Giovanni spat. "Seismic Toss Poliwrath." Similar to what happened earlier, the fighting and water type leapt into the air and threw Sceptile to the ground. "Focus Punch." Poliwrath began to fall as his fists began to glow white.
"Sceptile get up and launch another Leaf Storm," Ash pleaded. Sceptile managed to open his eyes and launch the attack straight into the air at the incoming attacker. Poliwrath was struck with several leafs as he began to fall. He came crashing to the ground a few yards away from Sceptile.
Both pokémon groaned as they pulled themselves up from the ground. Sceptile winced as he fell to knee while Poliwrath grimaced and grabbed the arm that had hit the ground hard.
I've got to end this now, but how? He'll just catch every attack we send at him from up close. Ash took a quick glance and noticed the glowing yellow seeds on Sceptile's back and smiled. Well it's worth a shot.
"Sceptile use Leaf Blade," Ash shouted. Again Sceptile's appendages glowed green. He rushed straight at his opponent throwing all he had at the attack only for it to be caught again. "Throw the other arm now." Sceptile responded by hurling his second glowing arm for that to also be caught.
"So stubborn," Giovanni laughed.
"And you're so easy to fool," Giovanni's laughter stop as the words ran through his mind. He quickly looked at his pokémon and realized what Ash had planned but it was too late. "Solar Beam Sceptile," Ash shouted. A bright white ball appeared in the forest pokemon's mouth before letting go a large beam of blinding white light. Ash and Giovanni had to cover their eyes from the bright ray as wind kicked up dust and small rocks from the wreckage that was on the battlefield.
Poliwrath cried out in pain before vanishing in the white light. The beam struck the stadium wall causing a massive explosion. On lookers yelled in panic at the massive explosion that took out the wall. The stadium wall that the attack had hit was reduced to rubble.
Ash and Sceptile looked on horror as the rubble began to move. Poliwrath pushed a rock from atop its position and slowly stood itself up. Poliwrath was breathing heavy. It slowly took a step out of the rubble but cried in pain and hit the ground unconscious.
Ash and Sceptile let out a small sigh of relief. Sceptile looked back and smiled at his master before vanishing in a red beam of light. "Great job Sceptile," Ash said with a small smile on his face.
Ash's smile vanished when he turned back to see Giovanni glaring at him. He matched the glare as the platforms they were on began to lower to the stadium. Before they lowered he could see Giovanni shaking in anger, which caused him to smirk.
•••••
Lance felt a cold stare behind him that sent chills up his spine. He turned to see Sabrina standing there with her arms crossed.
"You seemed pleased," she said coolly.
"Yes but it isn't over yet."
"You don't think he can do it?" she asked surprised.
Lance shook his head before looking her back in the eyes. "He is a strong trainer and that showed out there in the first half of the battle but he still has a long way to go," Lance stated. "With that said it isn't a bad idea to always have a back up plan."
"So that is why the Elite Four are hiding in the stands," Sabrina said with a smirk.
Lance chuckled a bit. "How long did you know?"
"Well besides Agatha they aren't necessarily the most subtle group of trainers out there," Sabrina answered. "They were easily spotted in the crowd along with your G-Men."
Lance took his eyes off of Sabrina when he heard cheers come from the front of the box. There stood Serena yelling her heart out to her beloved one below. "Let's just hope for everyone's sake he'll be able to finally put an end to all of this."
"You mean for her sake."
"Yes for her sake and unbeknownst to the others it is for their sakes as well," Lance's tone turned somber. "They have missed him so much as well. You can tell when they speak of him."
•••••
Ash sat in the middle of his locker room with a smile on his face. "Not a bad start to the Finals I would say."
"Pika pipi pikachu chu chu pi, Pikapi," Pikachu responded somberly.
"Very true," Ash answered more reserved.
"We are up 5-3 master," Lucario nearly shouted. "We are in the driver's seat. All we have to do is put him out of his misery now."
Ash let out a sigh as he stood up from his chair. "Lucario you will soon find out that numbers mean nothing in a Finals' battle. This thing is still up in the air."
•••••
Giovanni let out a roar as he threw a fold-up chair across the room into the wall. He then again yelled out as he balled his hands into fists and threw them into the lockers leaving a dent where they impacted.
"That fucking punk thinks he can just show me up like that and get away with it?" Giovanni yelled out. "Well he has got another thing coming to him. We'll show him what true power is all about."
Sitting in the middle of the room curled up in a ball was Persian. She lifted her head and stretched as she heard the loud clangs. She purred as she brushed up against Giovanni in an attempt to calm his rage.
Giovanni smirked as he took in his classy cat pokémon. He scratched her head and earned a purr from the normal type. He began to let loose a maniacal laugh. "He called me a coward but we'll show him who the real coward is. It's time to up the stakes a bit." He laughed again as Persian purred with content.