Welcome back everyone. Last time Ash managed to make it into the top 16 and then defeated Misty with the help of Wartortle and their special training.
Ch 26: A Friendship
"And that does it folks! With a stunning display of overpowering her opponent, Assunta moves on to the next round! Jeanette had no chance in this one as her Bellsprout couldn't grab hold of Fearow at all," Romeo declared as Ash slowly walked back into the waiting room, the boy having left following his match to bring Wartortle to the Pokémon Center.
Despite being gone, he had managed to watch the previous matches thanks to the television. Though the results surprised him little as both Ritchie and Paul controlled their matches from the start. Especially the latter as the Sinnoh native managed to win with help from his Torterra. Ash found it hard to call it a match at all however as Otoshi rushed right in with Marowak only to be blasted out of the ring from a Frenzy Plant. He had found himself slightly saddened by the boy's defeat but had a feeling it wouldn't have went well for him regardless of how long he had lasted.
Ritchie, however, had been a surprise to Ash as he managed to overcome Marina through a unique strategy. Whereas Marina used her Jigglypuff that Ash learned was nicknamed Pink, Ritchie used his Butterfree Happy to face off against it. Through careful planning based around what he witnessed in the preliminaries, Ritchie knew that Marina's Jigglypuff used Sing to put all their opponents to sleep. However, by having Happy use Safeguard it kept them safe and then able to take down their opponent rather easily as it appeared that Pink was rather weak in actual combat with opponents that were awake.
"I'm honestly not surprised we'll be facing him next, Pikachu," Ash spoke up as they looked out towards the field. Jeannette walked slowly away, Bellsprout resting within her arms as her opponent allowed Fearow to rest on her arm. Ash chuckled at the sight, knowing that his own Fearow would never do something like that. At least not in public.
"Pika!" Pikachu replied as now noticed a few of the individuals who had lost left the area. The only ones still here being that of Misty and Marina as the latter appeared to be pumping Jimmy up for his match.
"Who's ready for the next match to begin!" Romeo cried out once more as Ash looked through the open doors. The stage was fixed once more as the boy felt they should have just gone with a traditional field. Not that he disliked the one they were using, he just figured it would save them time when it came to repairs.
"Our seventh bout of the day features two trainers who couldn't be much different from each other. Our first contestant hails from Pallet Town and is the grandson of the world-famous Professor Oak. He's however taking after his father Blue by focusing on battling. As a student of Pokémon Academy he's been pushed to the brink this past year and is hoping to showcase his talents. Melissa meanwhile is the first member of her family to become a trainer in any form as her family instead work nine to five jobs. Her love of Pokémon pushed her to go for her junior license and then take the application test at Pokémon Academy. She failed to pass it however and instead enrolled at Saffron Community, being their only representative making it this far into the tournament."
Ash watched on as Gary waved a few times to the crowd, the boy noticing it was less of a showboat and more out of obligation. Though the action didn't go unnoticed by his opponent, the shorter girl glaring slightly as they walked up the stairs. Once in their positions, the two trainers reached for their respective pokeballs as the two devices flew onto the stage. Whiteness exploded outwards as Ash rubbed at his eyes, the two Pokémon standing proudly as the boy was surprised to see the Golem from before being used again. Gary meanwhile had chosen his Nidoqueen as the Poison and Ground-Type pumped her arms.
"This tournament must be tough for someone like her." Misty's voice reached Ash as the boy looked surprised to see her talking to him. She seemed to have gotten the message as she huffed out in annoyance, her eyes narrowed on Ash. "Listen here, Ketchum, just because I lost to you doesn't mean I won't speak with you."
"I just thought you were always in a poor attitude. I'm surprised you can hold a conversation," Ash replied, the boy immediately covering his mouth as he could have sworn the girl looked ready to kill him. "But anyways I'm just joking, ahahaha. Go on and finish whatever you were saying."
Misty shook her head in annoyance as the match took off, Golem beginning with a Rollout as Gary promptly had Nidoqueen stop it in its tracks with a Strength attack. Her body glowed white for a moment before it traversed down into her arms, the Drill Pokémon slamming her hands into the spinning Golem the Ground and Rock-Type became stationary. Golem continued to spin in place as chunks of tiles flew out from underneath it, smoke slowly billowing out as Ash swore he could smell something burning.
"Melissa isn't like the rest of us. Golem is her only Pokémon," Misty explained. An explosion rang out through the stadium, Ash's eyes darting towards the stage as he watched Nidoqueen be knocked backwards. Stones flew around the stage now, Ash watching as they dislodged themselves from the outer layer of Golem's shell. The Pallet Town native thought it was weird to see the Megaton Pokémon with such a smooth surface, its rocks now flying around the stage.
"Don't look down on us. You'll regret it!" Melissa called out as Golem moved its arms around. The stones appeared to listen to the movements as they quickly changed course, slamming into either Nidoqueen or the stage in the event she managed to dodge one. Ash blinked in confusion, having never seen such a technique before.
"And look at that folks! Golem and Melissa have learned how to use the actual stones embedded into Golem's shell in their Rock Blast. It's almost like a living extension of Golem at this point," Romeo pointed out. Gary smirked at the words, rubbing underneath his nose for a moment as Nidoqueen dodged another stone only to be struck once more.
"Since Golem is her only Pokémon, Melissa has worked to overcome it through different styles of a common attack," Misty finished. Ash continued to watch Gary, waiting for the boy to make some sort of counter only to remain silent. Nidoqueen continued to be struck by the barrage but Gary refused to make a command. "She'll only last in this tournament until Golem gives out."
"Why aren't you countering? Think you're better than us because of your heritage, Mr. Oak!" Melissa shouted out as Golem punched at the ground. The stones stopped their flight pattern and instead merged together as they slammed into the stage. Jagged stones shot out of the ground from the impact, Nidoqueen being launched into the air as the stones broke apart and raced for the Drill Pokémon once more. And yet Gary remained silent, his eyes now shut as Melissa was almost screaming at him while stones badgered Nidoqueen.
"Even an ant can be victorious when they're looked down on! A name means little in battle, Mr. Privileged."
"Is that what you think?" Gary muttered as his eyes finally opened. Ash blinked at the boy's reaction, his voice calm and collected as a small smile sat on his face. He had expected some sort of explosion from his rival but there was none. Instead he seemed like a completely different person. "If you honestly thought I looked down on you, you're mistaken. I might come from a household that supports my dreams and can help me. I might be able to afford more supplies and head out on journeys. I might have more Pokémon than you. But none of that makes me any better than you. Maybe a few months ago I'd have agreed, but not anymore.
"My family isn't me and the same goes for you. Keep sulking about a hand you were dealt or grow, I honestly don't care! The only one who matters in how I shape my future is myself! Nidoqueen, Rock Smash!"
A rumble started to emerge from the barrage of stones as Nidoqueen's fists glowed an orange hue, a flurry of punches erupting outward as the stones quickly collided against the tiled stage. A few returned to Golem, the Rock and Ground-Type relodging them into its shell as a pant was now evident.
"Its stamina is low," Ash muttered as Pikachu nodded. Nidoqueen smashed into the floor now, a slight glint in her eyes as a final punch slammed into Golem. The impact shook the Megaton Pokémon as Ash noticed the rocks that aligned its shell start to crack.
"Golem battled the entire prelims and now here. I'm surprised they made it this far," Misty replied as a shield emerged before Golem. Ash recognized it as Protect as Nidoqueen's next punch bounced off the shield with ease, the Drill Pokémon going in for a second punch as the shield cracked slightly.
"If I were an Oak the battle would be going differently," Melissa argued, Ash biting his lip at the comment as Nidoqueen punched straight through the Protect on the third try. Her fist slammed right against Golem, the power behind it causing it to roll backwards and begin a Rollout attack.
"A name is worthless," Gary replied. Nidoqueen waited for a command as Golem bounced around the stage, its trajectory being unable to be tracked. The movements changed slightly with each cycle, Gary noting them all as Ash felt his own head grow dizzy. "It's all how the person behind it acts. Truthfully, I used to think I was better than everyone just because I'm an Oak. Guess I had a rude awakening coming. You weren't bad, but focus less on your grudges and more on the battle next time.
"Nidoqueen, Earthquake."
With a single stomp of her foot, Nidoqueen caused the entire stadium to shake. Ash quickly felt the strength behind as he reached for a nearby wall, Pikachu falling from his shoulder and landing on the ground with a thud. To his surprise, Misty seemed fine as Ash returned his attention to the stage. Nidoqueen continuing her stomping as Golem found itself airborne. With no way to stop now, the Megaton Pokémon flew from the ring and landed out of bounds.
"And that's it! Golem is out of bounds so Nidoqueen wins!"
Gary merely shrugged his shoulders at the announcement, the boy recalling Nidoqueen as he stared over towards his defeated opponent. The girl kneeled on the stage, hands balled into fists as she slammed them down into the tiles. Golem likewise copied her action as the boy walked towards her before extending a hand outward.
"You were pretty good, let's battle again."
"Like you mean it," Melissa replied as she slapped his hand away. Getting back onto her feet, the girl recalled Golem into its pokeball before staring the boy down. Ash chuckled slightly from the look in the girl's eyes, her determination looking similar to a way he figured he once looked at Gary. "I don't need you talking down to me to try and make me feel better. Golem and I will get even stronger and then beat you."
"I'm looking forward to it," Gary replied as he threw his hands into his pockets. Without another word he made his way off the stage and back into the waiting room as a few eyes rested on him. Ash couldn't help but stare at the boy as he tried to figure out if this was all an act or if Gary had actually changed. Despite all the signs pointing to a new Gary he just had a hard time believing that the boy truly changed.
Looking back towards Misty, the boy realized that she had left and was now talking to Melissa. He found it interesting how between Ritchie and now this girl, the Cerulean student appeared to have connections with a few other schools. The Pallet Town native could only wonder why his own class didn't interact with the other schools. Shrugging his shoulders, the boy walked away from his current location as Pikachu followed after him.
The duo quickly came to a stop near Janine, the girl breathing slightly heavy as she stared at the open doors. Ash realized she was finally next, and against someone like Jimmy whom they had no information about. And for all they knew, he could have some strange Johto Pokémon they never saw before.
"You ready for this?"
"Of course," Janine replied, a small smile on her face as she turned towards him. Ash refused to bring up any mention of Jimmy, not wanting to worry his friend before her match. Though it was Janine herself that ended up mentioning her opponent. "I've trained too long just to lose in the first round. Even if he has some rare Pokémon we've never seen, Venomoth and I are planning to go all out."
Ash readied himself to reply, but before the words could leave his mouth the girl had begun to walk towards the opened doors. Romeo's voice echoed around once more as he started to introduce the next round, though Ash felt himself too nervous to fully listen. The boy strolled quietly towards the exit, nearly stepping on Pikachu during his lack of awareness.
With both trainers atop the stage, Ash wondered just what kind of Pokémon Jimmy would use as Venomoth appeared before Janine. Jimmy wasted no time in his choice, a Beedrill appearing before him as Ash felt slightly underwhelmed; he had been hoping to see a Pokémon not native to the Kanto region. It didn't appear to bother Janine, the girl going right on the offensive with her first command.
"Let's start off with Double Team and go right into Psybeam!"
"Veno!" the Bug and Poison-Type muttered as a flash of white covered her body. Within seconds a dozen copies emerged around the field, each of their antenna glowing a shade of purple and blue as it sparkled in the now twilight sky.
Jimmy appeared unfazed by the attack as a few beams shot forward. With unparalleled speed Beedrill dodged the first few blasts as smoke and debris were kicked up from the stage.
"That's some power your packing. Gotta be careful here. Agility, Beedrill!" the Johto native declared as his partner glowed red for a moment.
Blinking his eyes, Ash wondered if he missed anything as all the copies of Venomoth vanished. Even Pikachu rubbed at his own eyes, Beedrill floating happily as his needles shinned for a moment. With speed like that enhanced by Agility, Ash wondered if Janine would be alright. Though she didn't seem worried by the counter, a look of interest shinning in her eyes.
"Venomoth, Quiver Dance and right into Bug Buzz!"
Venomoth clicked her fangs together as a red light shined around her body. It quickly formed a wall of aura only to be dispelled and replaced by the power soundwaves that were emitted. Ash covered his ears, the pain too much for even him as a cry of pain erupted throughout the stadium. It seemed that the microphone had picked up the sound and amplified it, even Jimmy down on one knee as he clasped at his ears.
"Dang that's loud. But when you spend time with Vincent it's not too bad," Jimmy joked as he pushed off of the ground. The boy quickly called for his own Double Team as Beedrill flashed white, dozens of copies emerging around the field. The entire sky filled with Bug-Types, Ash trying to count how many existed between Venomoth and Beedrill but kept losing count as they move.
The Bug Buzz started to fade away as Beedrill's wings continued to flap, Ash noticing how the strength of its wings mixed with the number of copies allowed them to cancel out the powerful soundwave.
Janine bit her lip at that, a few beads of sweat present on her face as Beedrill blitzed around the sky. The girl found herself unable to distinguish who the real one was as its Twineedle attack managed to slice through a few of Venomoth's copies. Though at the same time Venomoth managed to eviscerate a few of Beedrill's copies with her Psybeam.
"Keep moving, Beedrill, our speed is second to none," Jimmy yelled out as the swarm of Beedrill danced across the sky. Blasts of Psybeam soared after them, the Poison Bee Pokémon nimbly dodging as the energy blasts would often miss their targets.
With another slash of Twineedle Janine watched as another copy of Venomoth vanished, only a handful now remaining as Janine pondered her choices.
Ash was quickly growing worried, the boy wondering just how she could cancel out Beedrill's speed as an explosion rang out. Smoke flooded the area only to vanish immediately from the wind as Beedrill started to drop towards the stadium floor. The Poison Bee Pokémon righted itself immediately as its two stingers glowed green for a moment and became elongated.
With a quick slash, Beedrill cut through one of the Venomoth. Ash found himself cursing for a moment as the attack seemed to land on the real Venomoth as a cry of pain echoed out.
"Damn," Janine muttered as a smirk sat on her face. Venomoth quickly recovered as she hovered away from Beedrill and back into the few remaining copies of herself. A small chuckle escaped from Jimmy as Beedrill rushed into the horde. "Guess letting us get a shot in was just to figure out the real one."
"Hehehe," Jimmy laughed as a Bug Buzz was launched outwards. The soundwaves vibrated through the stadium though Ash felt they were weaker than before. Sweat pooled atop Venomoth's head now as the soundwaves destroyed every copy still on the field, her own included.
"You're not too bad either. Typically we never struggle with an aerial fight thanks to Beedrill's speed."
With that Beedrill rushed forward as its stingers glowed white, the Poison Bee Pokémon lunging its stingers forward in a consecutive action. The stingers cut through the air but Venomoth managed to duck underneath the first before fluttering backwards from the second before launching a Psybeam at point blank. Janine quickly called for another Double Team but Beedrill flew through the smoke and landed an X-Scissor before the command could be finished. The strike slicing right across Venomoth's right wing. A small cut present now as the wing flapped around wildly.
The girl spit at the ground in annoyance as Venomoth fell towards the stage, the Poison Moth Pokémon catching a gust of wind before smashing into tiled ground.
Ash watched on in awe as the battle quickly transformed into a match of wits and speed, each side allowing openings in hopes of drawing their opponent in, but each strike only resulted in a dodged maneuver. The two Bug and Poison-Types danced through the twilight sky as it appeared more like a choreographed procedure.
An explosion rang outwards once more as Beedrill sliced through the latest Psybeam, Janine immediately calling for a Bug Buzz as Beedrill became trapped by the sound waves. A cry of pain escaped the Poison Bee Pokémon but it didn't stop the assault. Instead, Venomoth cried out for a moment as it was all Beedrill needed.
With the split second of a weakened Bug Buzz, Beedrill broke free as Jimmy punched forward calling for an X-Scissor.
Ash balled his hands together as he hoped Janine could counter it, but Beedrill was too fast to dodge. Especially with Venomoth's wing being clearly injured. Instead Janine appeared to stand her ground as the girl issued a Psybeam attack.
The air grew tense as Venomoth held her location, her antenna glowing with energy once more as she circled about and waited for Beedrill to strike. Her opponent appeared to circle her itself as it appeared in and out of focus thanks to its blitzing speed. A small buzz noise filled the area thanks to the speed of Beedrill's wings, Ash noticing that Janine closed her eyes now in the pivotal moment of the match.
"Above you, Venomoth!" the girl shouted, eyes snapping open as her partner shot upwards. Within that moment Beedrill reemerged within the sight of everyone watching. The Poison Bee Pokémon flew straight into the attack as it slashed forward.
Its stingers struck the attack first as an explosion rocked the stadium once more. Smoke covered both Janine and Venomoth's view as the only light from the cloud appeared to be something glowing light green.
A cry pierced through the sky as Venomoth shot out of the cloud, Beedrill atop her as its stinger attached to its abdomen was using X-Scissor. Its arms appeared useless as burn marks ran down the two stingers, though Janine hadn't accounted for the one on the abdomen to be used. Beedrill slammed Venomoth into the ground, the Poison Moth Pokémon sitting there motionless as Romeo made his way over.
"It appears Venomoth is down for the count! It's not moving and has officially fainted. That means Beedrill is the winner and Jimmy will advance onto the next round!"
"Damn, I thought I had him too," Janine moaned as she tossed her hands behind her head. The girl leaned up against the wall as Ash stood nearby as Cross and Mayaka continued their bout. Off in the distance he watched as Magneton flew around the sky, electricity raining down as Incineroar dodged each blast with ease. His thoughts drifted for a moment, the idea of facing Ritchie entering his mind. He knew his match against Ritchie would test himself, especially since he knew the boy always tried to be tactical.
"I never imagined him to use X-Scissor from the abdomen."
"That was an impressive idea," Ash stated, Pikachu scurrying up Janine's shoulder as he patted her on the head. "But you were amazing too. I'd never be able to pinpoint Beedrill's last attack just by listening for its wings. It takes a lot of skills to keep up with that speed."
"I guess," the girl responded as she scratched Pikachu behind his ear. The Electric-Type cried out in happiness as Romeo's voice echoed throughout the area. It alerted the three that the match was heating up as Incineroar lit himself on fire to stop what appeared to be a Flash Cannon. The metallic beam appeared to disintegrate upon impact only for three shots of lighting to explode around Incineroar.
Ash's eyes followed along the beams to see Magneton split into three parts, each of them avoiding the barrage of flames that shot up at them as three more individual beams shot out. One of them managed to strike Incineroar as he cried out slightly.
"These two though..."
"Yeah, there might not be a ring after they're finished," Ash agreed, not even needing to know the rest of Janine's sentence. Janine nodded at that, Mayaka cracking her knuckles as she called for a Rain Dance. Cross appeared more reserved, his hands resting in his pockets as the crowd cheered out for them. Ash and Janine moved closer towards the exit as the former noticed the debris littered all over the rest of the field.
Chunks of tile rested in the dirt as a large pile was being formed of the mostly still intact portions that were replaced. Without wasting any time, Mayaka ordered a Thunder at full power to strike Incineroar, but it was just what Cross had waited for.
"Now, Darkest Lariat!" he shouted as Incineroar leapt into the sky. Mayaka gasped from the jumping ability he showcased, Ash watching with awe as the Fire and Dark-Type's arms were wreathed in flames. His claws stretched outwards, slamming into Magneton's body as he started to spin in their descent.
The two Pokémon were quickly enveloped in a flaming cyclone until their bodies crashed into the stadium. A crater formed from the impact as the flames started to disperse, both of them covered in a few bruises. Though Magneton appeared worse for the wear.
Rain continued to pelt the two Pokémon as Ash wondered how Mayaka would take advantage of it, especially since Incineroar would be able to reach Magneton by leaping. She didn't appear worried however, calling for a Tri Attack as each part of Magneton formed a sphere of a different color. With a red, yellow and blue sphere, Magneton launched the attack at Incineroar.
The Heel Pokémon quickly went on the defensive, dodging the first sphere as Cross called for a Flare Blitz that lit his body ablaze and burned the second sphere. Mayaka didn't waste her chance however, calling for a Thunder as the powerful bolt shot down onto Incineroar. The Fire and Dark-Type roared in pain, the third and final sphere striking him as it knocked him onto his hands and knees.
It wasn't for long though, Incineroar leaping back onto his feet as Cross called for another Darkest Lariat, Ash wondering how this would work out. Magneton easily dodged it by splitting apart, the Pallet Town native noticing the smirk on Cross' face as he pointed towards one of the three floating parts of Magneton.
"Flare Blitz on that one. And hold it tight," Cross ordered. Ash's eyes grew wide, Mayaka feeling the same way as Incineroar bounded forward. Flames shot from his belt as they enveloped his entire body, his arms shooting forward for one of the three parts of Magneton. With one quick swipe he held the part within his hands, the flames spreading across the Electric and Steel-Type.
Magneton cried out in pain as the other two parts of its body crashed onto the ground, the pain inflicted to one of them being spread into the others as Mayaka had no way to counter it. Calling for a Thunder, none of Magneton's parts could finish the command even in a weakened triple shot due to the pain. Throwing her hands through her hair, the young girl sighed as Ash also knew it was over. Incineroar dropped the part of Magneton he held, the three parts forming back together only to stay motionless on the stage.
"And that does it! Magneton can no longer continue! Cross and Incineroar have claimed victory and will advance onto the semi-finals," Romeo declared as a light buzzing noise echoed through the stadium. It was quickly replaced by a bang, light flooding down onto the stadium as Ash noticed the artificial light being created by the stadium's built in lighting system.
"Leave everything on the field," Janine stated as Ash handed the egg over to her. The boy nodded at her words, flashing a thumbs up as Pikachu walked beside him.
"Ready, buddy?" Ash asked with a slight hint of nervousness in his voice. It was the first time they were actually battling Ritchie, and with how things ended between them last time, he had a feeling this would be draining.
"Pikapi!" Pikachu replied happily. His cheeks sparked with electricity as the duo saw Ritchie. The boy didn't offer any words as they both walked towards the stage, Sparky sitting on his shoulder. Ash figured this was how the match would go; a showdown between Pikachu as they both got onto the stage.
Neither sent out a pokeball as their respective Pikachu stepped forward. Sparky appeared different however, his usual happy expression replaced as Ash knew this wasn't between friends or classmates or whatever Ritchie considered them now. But rather between rivals.
"Ash, no hard feelings for however this goes, okay?" Ritchie asked, a lack of friendliness in his voice. It slightly unsettled Ash as the boy only nodded in response. Romeo quickly made the call to begin, Ash taking the first move.
"Pikachu, let's start off with Quick Attack! Get low and strike fast," Ash commanded, his left arm sweeping across his body as Pikachu leapt forward. A trail of light flowed behind the Electric-Type as he bounded across the field.
"Zippy Zap."
Ash blinked at the command, though in that second it was all over. As his eyes finished blinking Pikachu sat on his rear end as a few sparks of electricity ran across his body. Sparky remained standing, the tiles around his section of the stage now shattered as the Electric-Type stood waiting.
"Well folks, that's something I've never seen before!" Romeo cried out as Ash was still trying to comprehend everything. Ritchie only chuckled at the look of confusion, the boy adjusting his hat.
"Do you understand why I left now? A move like this would have never been created at Pokémon Academy," Ritchie stated as Ash narrowed his eyes. He was confused by what his opponent meant by "created" but before he could ask, Ritchie had called for a Grass Knot. Vines sprouting up immediately as Ash countered.
"Get away with Quick Attack. Don't let the vines get you!"
"Cha!" Pikachu agreed as he sprinted away from the vines. They followed after him however, Pikachu being forced to slice them with an Iron Tail. Ash quickly scanned the field for Sparky, but the Mouse Pokémon was missing, the stage erupting from underneath Pikachu revealing where their opponent ran to.
Spinning like a drill, Sparky's tail emerged from under the tiles as Pikachu was launched skyward. The Electric-Type struggled to stay composed in the air as a Thunderbolt was sent his way. Ash quickly countered with his own command for a Thunderbolt as the two attacks canceled each other out but once again Ritchie was faster. Vines snapped around Pikachu's falling body as the Electric-Type became ensnared in the trap.
"You see my improvements now, Ash? Do you understand why I couldn't stay?
"I would have still been chasing after your shadow but now I can stand as your equal!"
"Is that it?" Ash chuckled as he adjusted his hat. He watched as Sparky raced towards them, body covered in electricity as Pikachu freed himself from the vines with an Iron Tail before springing over Sparky. The Electric-Type nearly fell off the stage from his momentum, but Sparky managed to stop in time.
Ash however noticed the destruction that was occurring to the field, a large portion of the tiles now shattered as sections of the stage's foundation were cracking. An idea came to his mind as Ritchie called for another Zippy Zap, Ash thinking to himself how Ritchie also was bad at naming moves.
The attack however was too fast for Ash to counter, Pikachu being rammed into once more only for Ash to notice a chunk of the stage fall off. The sight of it brought an idea to his mind.
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"That won't work," Ritchie replied as Sparky dodged the attack with ease. Ash didn't argue with his opponent as the Thunderbolt crashed into the stage, a few of its cracks widening now. Ritchie called for his own Thunderbolt now as Ash had Pikachu dodge with a Quick Attack, the Electric-Type able to avoid the blast with ease as he rammed himself into Sparky.
The landed hit appeared to surprise Ritchie for a moment as he called for Sparky to dig under the field once more, Ash this time ready as he told Pikachu to start running. His partner agreed as a trail of light followed behind him, his speed keeping it hard to track his exact location as Sparky leapt from under the stage and just missed Pikachu.
"Thunderbolt!" both trainers called for as their respective Pikachu listened.
Electricity flowed through their bodies as the Thunderbolts shot out of them, the attacks meeting in midair as an explosion ensured. Wind and bits of tile battered Ash, the boy standing there confidently as he watched Sparky land atop the mostly tile-less field.
"Pikachu, Iron Tail on the field now!"
"Why would you do that?" Ritchie asked before commanding a Zippy Zap. Sparky raced forward but Pikachu managed to jump into the air and avoid Zippy Zap at first.
His body twisted around, his tail stiffening as it glowed a hue of silver before it slammed against the stage. The cracks within the foundation were more pronounced now, even Ritchie being able to notice them as Sparky tried Zippy Zap once more as a huge chunk of the stage fell apart. The vines that remained from the previous Grass Knot fell with it, the opening into the foundation showing Ash's plan in full as the entire ring looked ready to fall apart at the smallest hit. Though the attack was a success as Pikachu rolled along the field, Ash knew it had hurt Ritchie more than him.
"Sparky, stop with Zippy Zap," Ritchie ordered, his hand sweeping to the side as his partner listened. Sparky muttered in confusion but quickly understood at the sight of the field, Romeo complaining into his microphone over his beautiful ring being turned into a scrap heap.
"And with an idiotic...I mean unique plan, Ash has managed to keep Sparky and Ritchie from running around with their Zippy Zap. Whatever that may be, but it can't be used freely now. Otherwise they risk breaking more of the stage," Romeo explained. The crowd remained silent for now, Ash knowing they wouldn't get it until things were finished being prepared. As it was, he honestly didn't even know if this would work out or not.
"So you wanted to keep us from running, huh?"
"Honestly I just had to stop Zippy Zap. Though I guess you can't really use Dig freely either. But now that our speed is equal, I guess our match can start over."
Ash hoped Ritchie wasn't calling his bluff however, Pikachu breathing heavily from all the hits he had to endure. Though the look on his face told Ash he wasn't going down no matter how many times he was struck. The duo smirked at each other once more as Ash called for a Quick Attack.
With no way to properly dodge, Ritchie was forced to try and use Grass Knot to slow Pikachu down but the Electric-Type weaved around it with ease. The vines snapped out for Pikachu once more, but he dodged them with a timed leap as the Mouse Pokémon climbed atop them before jumping into the sky.
"Iron Tail!" Ash shouted, his fist punching up into the sky. Pikachu started to spin, his tail stiffening as the glow of it made his body look like a saw until his tail connected with Sparky. The impact left tehri opponent dazed for a moment, Pikachu ready to attack once more only to be ensnared by the vines.
"Thunderbolt, Sparky!"
"Electro Ball!"
The two Pikachu fired off their attacks, the Thunderbolt traveling faster as it took more time to charge up the Electro Ball. Finally ready, Pikachu swung his tail forward as the sphere crashed into the Thunderbolt. Smoke shot outwards as the explosion managed to free Pikachu, the electric type nearly rolling off the stage only to stick his tail into one of the few remaining tiles. Ash could see Ritchie starting to grow nervous, the boy able to tell Ritchie was starting to overthink as he called for a Zippy Zap.
The attack shot forward like lightning, Pikachu unable to dodge as he was socked in the gut. A bit of saliva shot from his mouth as another chunk of the stage fell apart. What had originally been a large stage quickly became a much smaller ring, Ash jumping from his portion onto the dirt ground as Ritchie followed suit.
"Pikachu, jump into the air and give yourself some space! And use Electro Ball!"
"Not happening!" Follow after him with Zippy Zap! Don't let them destroy any more of the stage!"
Ash smirked as Pikachu leapt upwards, his tail glowing with electricity as the sphere formed. Sparky was right behind them, however, his body covered in electricity as he almost approached Pikachu. With one quick sweep of his tail, Pikachu shot the Electro Ball for Sparky, the attack exploding on contact as smoke was created.
"Grapple him now!" Ash shouted, Sparky emerging from the cloud of smoke without any electricity around him. Ritchie called out for a Thunderbolt, but it was too late as Pikachu's tail stiffened up with a metallic glow. The appendage quickly lodged itself with Sparky's tail before Pikachu twisted his body, the movement shooting Sparky for the arena floor.
The impact was powerful, the crowd cheering now as a small crater formed. It wasn't the only thing impacted however as the last few tiles shot up into the air.
"Quick Attack!" Ash shouted as Pikachu used the now falling tiles as a bridge. The Electric-Type leapt from one to another as he closed the distance with the dazed Sparky. Ritchie tried to counter with a Thunderbolt, but the attack already missed as it shattered the tile Pikachu had previously leapt from. The Electric-Type was too fast as his body crashed into Sparky.
A cracking noise could be heard now, the entire ring shaking as it fell apart. Both Pikachu didn't need a command to jump as they both leapt into the sky. Ash looked at the remains of the ring now as it became nothing more than a pile of rubble. Maybe big enough to hold one of the two descending Pikachu.
"Electro Ball, triple shot!" Ash called.
"Chu pi!" Pikachu replied, launching off three Electro Balls in rapid succession. They were smaller than usual, but Ritchie and Sparky were only able to block two of them as the third struck. The impact accelerated Sparky towards the ground as the Electric-Type landed atop the rubble.
Ash stared at it, noting no room for Pikachu as the Electric-Type was close to the ground now.
"Electro Ball, Pikachu!" Ash shouted once more, this time the attack taking a bit longer. Sparky and Ritchie were ready as they prepared their own Thunderbolt attack as Pikachu swept his tail forward. The attack rocketed downwards, the movement allowing Pikachu to slow down slightly as Sparky launched his Thunderbolt.
"You're right, Ritchie, you have grown since leaving," Ash stated as he rubbed under his nose. The words brought a look of worry onto Ritchie's face as the Thunderbolt struck against the Electro Ball. An explosion started to occur as Ash looked up for a moment. "I doubt we would have had a battle like this, pushing ourselves to our limits if you stayed. I'm just not good with people leaving and I let it get to me when it shouldn't have.
"But thanks for the great battle. Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
"Pikaaaaaaa chuuuuuuu!" Pikachu's voice echoed out as a yellow light shot from the sky. A bolt of lightning immediately shot out of the new smoke cloud as it struck Sparky, the attack launching him from the pile of rubble as Pikachu landed atop it. Sparky however landed in the dirt field beside it, his body officially out of the ring as Romeo made the call.
"Now that my beautiful ring is destroyed this match is finally over! Sparky is out of our now nonexistent ring meaning Pikachu is the winner!"
Ash chuckled to himself as his body gave out, his butt landing against the dirt as Pikachu scurried over to him. The duo laughed in celebration at their battle as Ash forced himself to stand. He wanted to walk over to Ritchie, but the boy appeared rather down after the loss. Sparky rested in his arms quietly, the Electric-Type now asleep as Ash decided to let the boy be alone after his defeat.
"You were outstanding, Pikachu," Ash stated as the duo fist bumped before Pikachu climbed atop his shoulder. Making his way into the waiting room, Ash noticed Romeo and a few of the workers talking over things. Though they quickly worked on removing the rubble making Ash wonder what was about to happen.
"You just had to go and break the ring, didn't you?" Janine sighed out as Ash entered the waiting room. A few eyes were on him now as the boy and Pikachu chuckled in unison. Janine didn't seem upset by his action as the girl playfully punched him.
"It was the only way to stop him. Between Zippy Zap and Dig we wouldn't have landed a hit. Plus Grass Knot was an annoyance," Ash answered as to his surprise Romeo started the announcement of the next match. The boy looking outside for a moment as both Paul and Assunta walked past him. There was no stage outside as the dirt field has been cleared.
"While you were out there, the organizers decided to scrap the ring and just go with the dirt field. That means no more ring outs."
"Sounds better then," Ash replied as his stomach growled. His eyes darted over towards the table filled with food, but he was too interested in Paul's match. He wondered just what Pokémon he was going to use next after such a quick first match for him.
"Honestly I didn't like the idea of winning by a ring out. It was fine for the prelims, but not here," Ash continued to say as both trainers took their respective sides.
"Still, you didn't have to destroy it all. Oh well, you couldn't have helped it," Janine replied with a light shrug. Taking his egg back, Ash thanked the girl for holding onto it as a flash of light entered his peripheral vision.
Standing on the field before Paul appeared to be Chimchar, the little Fire-Type looking somewhat nervous as his trainer lacked much emotion. Ash wondered how the Chimp Pokémon would handle things as a Rhydon stood opposite it.
Both trainers wasted no time with their first attacks, Paul issuing a Flamethrower while Assunta countered with Sandstorm. With a simple roar and a slam of its foot, Rhydon summoned forth a might storm as the dirt field was quickly pulled into it. Sand buffeted around the area as Paul was forced to cover his eyes. Even Chimchar was forced to cancel his attack, the flames forming within his mouth now dying down much to Paul's annoyance.
"Why'd you stop? Flamethrower!" Paul shouted out as Chimchar jumped slightly. Right away Ash could tell the duo were on tough terms, the boy remembering how Paul hadn't even thought to use Chimchar during their midterm.
"Chim. Chimchar," Chimchar replied as the flames built up once more. Breathing in deeply, Chimchar exhaled as the flames shot into the whipped-up sand. It appeared to have no effect at all as the next sight was none other than Rhydon rushing right through it. With its shoulder lowered, Rhydon plowed through the Flamethrower with ease, only a small marking left as the Drill Pokémon ran right into Chimchar.
With excruciating force, Rhydon slammed itself forward as Chimchar flew backwards. The impact was so powerful the Chimp Pokémon laid on the ground for a moment as he struggled to get back up.
"Is that really it? After all this time that's your limit?" Paul asked as Chimchar shook his head. Ash bit his lip at that, wanting to yell at Paul for his comments only to be surprised by Chimchar's determination. Without needing a command, he fired off another Flamethrower only for Rhydon to take it head on and counter with a Stone Edge as a pillar shot up from the ground.
Chimchar flew back once more as the Fire-Type stood upwards once more. His body shook slightly as he clutched at his left arm, a large bruise now forming as Paul refused to issue a command. A second pillar shot out of the ground and launched Chimchar once more, the Chimp Pokémon having no time to react as a third pillar launched out of the spot where he was going to land.
Chimchar shouted out in pain but Paul remained silent, the boy looking on disapprovingly as Ash felt his blood pressure rising. He didn't know why Paul refused to make a command, but Chimchar was going through unnecessary pain because of it.
"Why doesn't he counter?" Ash asked through grit teeth. Pikachu balled his own paws as electricity sparked from his cheeks, the duo both growing pissed from it all. Another scream filled the arena as Chimchar was rammed once more, the Chimp Pokémon trying to grab at the dirt field with his paws. The Sandstorm finally rescinded as a few gasps came from the stands, the spectators finally able to clearly see Chimchar.
Even Ash cried out in shock, Chimchar's entire body bruised as he heaved. His right eye was swollen shut as his usual orange and cream-colored fur appeared closer to a shade of purple; lumps running down his body as he struggled to stand.
"Uh, Paul, you do realize the battle isn't over, right? You can issue a command," Romeo asked, the man getting close to Paul only to step back from one glare. The boy huffed out softly as Chimchar stood weakly, Assunta stopping her own commands now that she saw the state Chimchar was in. "I mean, your Pokémon is in a bad situation. Why not try to help?"
"The moment his Flamethrower failed the match was over," Paul stated as he remained looking forward. Chimchar looked back towards the boy, Ash able to see the desperation on his face but Paul said nothing to his Pokémon.
"Who does he think he is!" Ash shouted, the boy placing his egg on the ground before rolling up his sleeves. He quickly took a few steps forward as he was too upset to think clearly. His momentum was stopped however as Gary placed him in a full nelson, the boy unable to move no matter how much he tried.
"Let. Me. Go."
"No way," Gary replied as Ash thrashed about. Even Cross came over to help restrain the Pallet Town native, the two boys more then enough to keep Ash from heading out onto the field. "If you head out there now, you'll be disqualified for interfering."
"He's right, Ketchum. Any issues you have with that brat, wait until he steps back here," Cross added as Ash relented. His body sagged within their hold as the duo placed him on the ground. Ash felt weak in that moment, unable to help Chimchar despite everything Paul was putting him through.
Boos quickly rained down on Paul, the boy appearing to not care at all as he shrugged before facing Romeo. Ash couldn't quite here what was said, but based on the fact that Romeo declared the match over with Assunta the winner he assumed it was a notice of forfeit. With his hands shoved into his pockets Paul walked back into the waiting room without recalling Chimchar. The Chimp Pokémon followed him back slowly as Paul paid him no attention. Though everyone who remained in the room paid Paul attention.
Their eyes were locked onto the boy as he didn't appear to care. His gaze continued forward as he walked away from the others. Ash could tell each student there wanted their own turn with Paul, but no one took the next step towards doing anything. Except for his opponent, Assunta's voice echoing towards him.
"Was that some joke to you!?" she yelled as Paul stopped in his tracks. The boy appeared to pause for a moment as he looked uninterested in the girl's words. "Everyone is battling with all they've got, and you abandon your Pokémon right as the match started. And now look at him, he can barely walk and you haven't gotten him proper medical attention."
"This tournament was nothing more than a testing ground for my Pokémon. I used the preliminaries for training to see who I could trust and who needed a greater push. These rounds here were for those I felt were lacking my standards," Paul answered as he looked at Chimchar with slight disdain.
"If you knew the power he had, you'd all be disappointed with the fact he can't draw it out."
"That doesn't give you the right to treat him awfully! He's still your Pokémon!" Ash shouted as he raced forward. Paul glared daggers at the boy for a moment as Ash didn't budge, the boy wanting to sock Paul in the face but knew better. "Chimchar needed you out there and you allowed him to get battered around. What kind of trainer are you to allow that?"
"If a Pokémon can't reach my expectations then I have no desire to work with them. That Chimchar showcased power that shouldn't be possible for a Pokémon like him when I met him. But in the past year he's failed to pull it out no matter the situation. If that angers you so much, then here," Paul stated as he pulled a pokeball out of his pocket. Holding down the center button, a blue light shot out from it as it enveloped Chimchar.
"He's no longer mine. The only thing this tournament showed was that I needed to find a new Fire-Type."
"You're just gonna throw away all the progress you've made together? Just like that?" Ash asked, the boy's fists shaking as he watched Chimchar. The Fire-Type looked dejected, his face looking down towards the floor as he tried to pretend to be alright. Ash knew better however.
"I've got no time for weak Pokémon. By this point all my other Pokémon have made leaps in strength but not Chimchar. He's only slowing us down."
With that Paul exited the room, Ash wanting to chase after him but a thud redirected his attention. Looking at the vicinity of the noise, he saw Chimchar unconscious on the floor. He instantly ran towards the Fire-Type as he shook him softly to try and awaken him. It did nothing however, the Chimp Pokémon unmoving as Ash scooped him up into his arms. Without a word Ash ran down out of the waiting room and straight for the Pokémon Center. He had to get Chimchar the attention he needed.
Well things could have ended better. But, Ash managed to continue advancing onward while starting to patch things up with Ritchie...only to then have Paul be an ass towards Chimchar. Who's release occurred much sooner than the anime. That will get explained next chapter and just what's happening with Chimchar.
Thank you to everyone who read the chapter and supports this story. Please leave a review letting me know what you enjoyed and how I can improve the story.