Wally, as we remember, is a popular character of the Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald franchise. There was no way, I could miss him out. Moreover, you can't find a duel between him and Ash much on Fanfiction. The way this guy appears out of the blue at the exit of Victory Road to challenge the player to a full battle after half of the player's party is drained or inflicted with a status condition. Happened with me, so I have to get back at him XD
Ash's Party: Torterra, Swellow, Lucario, Feraligatr, Lapras and Charizard.
Hope you enjoy!
Wally stopped abruptly. He had heard the tell tale musical sound from his lungs that told him an asthma attack was coming. Already the he couldn't draw in his usual lung-full, as if concrete had been poured into his airways. He patted his pocket for his inhaler, it was flat. He patted his other pockets - also empty. The panic and lack of air drove him to start gasping, breathing as if the oxygen had been sucked from the air around him. He doubled over and then fell to his knees, one hand on the ground to support his weight. He glanced around, someone had to come, someone just had to. He tried to call out but without breath he had no way to alert anyone. Already his thoughts were becoming jumbled, like he was in a nightmare rather than a wintry alley in Verdanturf. Without uttering another sound his face met the frigid pavement and his eyes closed. Only if he could somehow reach out to his uncle.
He could hear the air moving through his bronchioles like they were some kind of weird instrument. It was a wheezing really, squeaky and worrisome. Slowly, the vision was fading away, until his most desired wish was flashed in front of his eyes.
"Here, you dropped this in the Contest Hall,'' someone spoke. The stranger's voice filled Wally's heart with hope and not appearing to be rude, Wally snatched the inhaler from the man's hands and took a puff, holding it in for a count of four before slowly expelling the air that tasted of chemicals. It was kinda bitter really, but after so long with asthma he had come to associated it with easier breathing and so in a weird sort of way he liked it. He put the cap back on the inhaler and jammed it deep in his parker pocket, the last thing he needed was it falling out while he long-boarded home.
''You all okay, there buddy?'' the person, or ay the rescuer questioned. There was sympathy discovered in the voice, which told Wally this person was genuine.
''Ye..a, I guess, th…thanks…,'' Wally stammered.
''I don't mean to be rude but this is considered a first aid,'' Ash chuckled, reaching for Wally's shirt before loosening it.
''You are very…kind,'' Wally expressed, as Ash straightened him up and rubbed his back.
''Oh mention not,'' Ash chuckled. ''I have a friend whose a doctor, well, a Pokemon doctor to be real. But the aid applies to humans as well.''
''You are lucky to have friends like that,'' Wally insisted, ''Who knows what may come handy…''
''But seriously, take care of your own stuff dude,'' Ash smiled, in a nurse's way of chastising. ''You are LUCKY I was sitting right behind you in the Contest Hall. Had I not seen that inhaler drop from your pants, you would be hacking for a mouth-to-mouth.''
''Yeah, I am a bit clumsy,'' Wally mumbled.
''Come on, let's get some coffee in you. The caffeine will relax those muscles,'' Ash assisted the green-haired teen to stand up to his level. He draped one arm carefully over Wally's shoulder, so that the boy could be erected.
''I could use some coffee,'' Wally breathe out, letting the breeze of Verdanturf touch his face. Realizing he hasn't made himself familiar yet, Wally made the first gesture. ''Oh, my name is Wally.''
''Hey Wally, I'm Ash Ketchum from Pallet Town!'' Ash flashed a cheeky smile with accepting the handshake.
''You are …..''
XXX
Ash returned the polite smile to the waiter, who returned with their order. Eggs, ham, piles of fried potatoes. A tureen of fruit sits in ice to keep it chilled. The basket of rolls they set before me would keep him going for a week. Wally meanwhile, wasn't used to such a lavish breakfast. Just to sit in such an expensive diner was an accomplishment of the day. Everywhere he looked there were stacks of food. One section as a continental breakfast, the other a traditional English breakfast, the boy didn't know where it start first
''Yes I am him,'' Ash confessed, sipping from his cup of brew. The voice had startled Wally from his thoughts. ''The Champion, who went missing. So surprise, I'm back to civilization.''
''Why did you disappear?'' Wally inquired, paled from the discovery.
Ash laughed. Maybe he liked repeating this story. ''Truth be told, I didn't really. I just switched Career paths. Went to the Tech Industry. Created a software that revolutionalize the industry for information transferal at blinding speed. Dug more into the tech business, designed and built high tech stuff, sold a few companies to Industry Giants, and made my first billion at 19. Now I am the President and CEO of one of the biggest Enterprise in Kalos."
''Kalos? What does your company do again?'' Wally's weak brows seemed to elevate his forehead.
''Tech stuff, you wouldn't understand. You don't seem so tech savvy, but why waste the moment of pride. Simply, put we work on inventions and innovations that will shape the future using AI and advanced technology.''
''Wait, a minute. You wouldn't happen to be the CEO of Aspexx, right?'' the Petalburg native crossed.
''Oh, I own that company, in fact, I started it from the ground. But I am the CEO and President of A&M Enterprises, and Aspexx is just a small part of it.'' Ash supplied, applying spread on his toast.
''A&M Enter….'' Wally felt weak. It was almost as huge as Steven Stone sitting in front of him.
''Whoa, keep it together fella,'' Ash whistled.
''Sorry, sorry.'' Wally shook of the frailty ''I just can't believe I am having coffee with one of the biggest business magnate in the world.''
''I wanna see how you react when I ask you for a Pokemon battle.'' Ash took a chomp of his toast, but his voice hinted a weight of seriousness.
''A Pokemon Battle with me?'' Wally captioned. A battle with a Champion was always been the top of his dreams.
''Sure,'' Ash insisted. ''You wouldn't shoot me down now, will you? I just saved your l.i.f.e…''
''I am enthused,'' Wally cheered, bouncing out of his chair. The sudden jerk also spilled some coffee on the table, but Wally was way deeper into the abyss of battling the Champion. ''Let's do it!''
The enthusiasm caught a lot of eyes, but Ash had his own mind wrapped on food.
''Yea, can I just finish this toast first?''
XXX
Finding a perfect pot was not very hard. The abandoned Rusturf tunnel was quite disowned after the rails and road had linked Verdanturf to Rustboro. And hence, Ash laid his brick there. Both trainers stood apart with a sizeable distance between them.
Wally shook his head. He couldn't get ahead of himself. But as the nagging doubt crept up in his mind, a rocking at his hip startled him. All six pokeballs rattled furiously even beneath the hand that came to rest at his belt. The message was clear; his team was ready to take the step with him. No hesitations, no doubts, just the clear certainty that they would pour everything they had into this last battle, and they expected no less of their trainer.
A growing warmth welled up in his chest and the greenette nearly laughed as the sensation cut through his nervousness. How had he forgotten the promise they made together on the outskirts of Petalburg? The promise that no matter what, they would reach the top and keep going as long as they had breath in their lungs and a beat in their hearts. Wally knew that his Pokémon were of the same mind; they didn't want it to end either.
And just like that, the boy took a confident step forward, his own Pokeball at the ready. It was as if the Champion's challenge was the final spark needed to light the fire within his heart, to start the crescendo of adrenaline and determination that would drown out whatever nervousness that lingered in his mind.
But Wally didn't get the chance to ponder the subtle reaction, as suddenly Ash's Pokeball arced into the air.
Before he could even release his own Pokeball, the regional common Bird Pokemon of Hoenn in a blur of white and black, and Wally hurriedly shouted to his partner before Altaria even fully materialized on the battlefield. The cotton-winged dragon came forth from Drake's Pokeball with a shrill cry, its blue and white plumage strikingly bright even in the darkness of the tunnel.
''Altaria, Dragon Pulse!''
Wally barked, and Altaria's cheeks puffed out in response before loosening a frigid beam of teal purple energy from its beak. Swellow, where concerned, shone brightly before leaving a trail of illusionary duplicates in its wake, carrying on until there were at least a dozen of them.
'Keep on using Double Team!'' With a plan in follow, Ash only needed to create opening first and probe Altaria for weakness.
Each time, Altaria would reorient herself and fire off another salvo, Swellow would just split into multiple copies. The maneuver denied Altaria a chance to rest, while simultaneously keeping Swellow from ascending to the upper air to take aim for an attack.
''Let's get loud Swellow, time to use the move Noivern taught you!'' Ash grinned, throwing a hand out. ''Boomburst!''
Swellow whistled sharply as its beak conjured a heavy stream of high pitched soundwaves. Assaulted by the sound of the high frequency scream, Altaria writhed in confusion, slapping her wings at its ears as if that would stop the noise.
But Wally was having none of it, and his weak cry reverberated through the chamber. "Altaria! Go!"
The dragon type reared back with another melodious cry, its trainer's command cutting through its disorientation.
''Again!''
Calculating the perfect timing, Swellow send Altaria soaring against with another fierce screech of irritable sound waves. Altaria cried out pitifully as she was thrown to the ground, dirt and grime soiling her wings as she squirmed.
''Altaria, Roost!''
With a chirp of surprise at the redacted command, squeezing her eyes shut, she concentrated on drawing the healing energy up into her body. She picked herself up from the ground, recover's energy washed over her form and she straightened with a determined chirrup.
''Alright, Swellow! Looks like our opponent wants some more!''
But Swellow would not be denied, and it was already tracking Altaria's ascent as Ash called out for an Aerial Ace. The Swallow Pokemon's face contorted in a snarl. Obeying with a chattering cry, Swellow launched itself in one smooth motion, nearly vanishing in a white blur of light.
''Cotton Guard!''
Altaria's terrified scream was muffled as she flung her wings up in a last ditch blanket of fluffy cloud. That was a defenses that Swellow couldn't weaken, as his beak rammed into shroud of cotton.
''Oh…'' Ash groaned.
The Pokemon's cries couldn't be heard from all the fluff round it's face. However, the struggling began as Swellow tried to claw its way out and began hacking for breath once successful.
''Ice Beam!'' Wally, calmer this time, prompted.
Altaria emerged from the cotton, firing a freezing beam from her mouth in return.
''I applaud your strategy, but I wouldn't care much if you applaud mine or not!'' ''Double Team!''
Swellow chirped once again before winking out of view. Flickering all over the chamber, Swellow multiplied itself. The freezing ray went passing though a single clone, freezing the wall behind.
"Another double team?!"
That wasn't according to plan, and Wally's panicked look snapped to his partner as it let loose a shriek of warning. Swellow had reappeared streaking horizontal to the ground, and there was no time to raise Altaria's defensive barrier against the unexpected trajectory.
''How are you gonna know which ones the real one?'' Ash quirked a brow, chuckling. ''Plenty of time to figure it out later, Mirror Move!''
''What?!''
Renewed determination in her eyes, Swellow's throat bulged as it conjured up the attack. A chilly beam shot forth, and too close to dodge this time, the freezing bolt hit Altaria right in the chest, and Swellow shrieked in triumph. The Humming Pokemon let out a groan, before collapsing into the pile of rubble below. It did not try to rise again.
Feeling the Swellow's shadow pass over him on its way back to the battlefield, Wally silently turned and returned his partner to its ball with a grim expression. Giving a reassuring tap to Altaria's ball for its hard work, he hesitated as he regarded his remaining two. His next teammate was an important decision; he could climb back from one defeat, but losing two Pokémon this early would surely create an insurmountable hole.
Mind made up, he took a steadying breath as his hand closed around his next Pokeball and snapped his sharpened gaze back to the battlefield.
"Let's go!''
A metallic form hovered into view with a wide, circular metal body, like a disk with an edged ring encircling its body, beneath a single large red eye and, at its 'shoulders' were two more smaller eyes, like a pair of Magnemite had fused to its body. Attached to these shoulders through the ring where a pair of rotating magnets, appearing to serve as hands to the strange metal Pokémon, and finally a rounded antenna rose from the top of its head, sparking with electricity as the Pokémon let out a hum that echoed through the room.
Bobbing slowly, the Magnezone's humming intensified, and an electric bolt shot out from its antenna, as it glared it's eye at Swellow.
However, Swellow wasn't the combatant Ash had chosen for Magenzone. Retuning the stubborn Swallow Pokemon back in the recall beam. Swellow would not be chosen again, and just like that Ash closed a lid on Wally's hopes. His hand's slid to the Pokeball right next to Swellow's. Hand surging forward, Ash loosed his next Pokeball.
On its initial landing, the ball landed upon the button on the front, causing it to expand from its compact form to its larger, unlocked mode. Bursting from the light, appeared Ash's Lucario. The Aura Pokemon issued a snort at the sight of its fellow steel type, but Ash simply watched in silence, brushing a finger under his nose.
"Power up Punch/ Flash Cannon!''
Lucario growled ferally at the Magnezone as he launched himself towards it, striking it with a hardened punch that sent the metal Pokémon crashing against the wall. But it continued to float, unfazed despite taking the Fighting-type attack, which it retaliated against with a Flash Cannon, gathering light into a sphere and firing a beam of metallic energy.
''Dodge it and Aura Sphere!''
Lucario compliantly nodded back to his trainer, swinging out of harm's way /holding his paws at his side to/ the globe of energy homing in on the Electric/Steel-type like a heat-seeking missile.
Again Wally was prepared. ''Thunderbolt!''
Magnezone's antennae sizzled, as a bolt surged up and Magnet Area Pokemon launched a current through the orb of fighting energy. The sphere burst, making it a poor conductor as the arc of electricity passed through it, making its way for the bipedal jackal.
''Bone Rush!'' Ash yelled defiantly.
Conjuring the glowing staff out of pure spiritual energy, Lucario preferred to snap his at the middle and use the two ends like a pair of batons. Swinging them in a oscillatory motion, the fanning blocked the Thunderbolt, not letting it pass through.
''Another Aura Sphere!'' Ash hurried.
Swishing his tail, the orb in Lucario's wavered, growing once more. Winding his arms and thrusting them back, he lobbed the attack forward with charged vigor.
As the Aura Sphere rushed forward, Wally cautioned to his Pokemon ''Magic Coat!''
Magnezone became coated in a layer of white energy, forcing a second skin across its metal body, which upon being stricken by the Aura Sphere, sent it flying back in the loyal Pokemon's direction. The Lucario's eyes went wide with horror, and out of instinct he ducked to avoid it. The sphere continued to soar and burst into the tunnel with a powerful impact. A hundred more impacts like that and the tunnel would be history!
Wally decided it was time to use something more than just Pokemon moves. ''Use your Magnet Pull Ability and Thunderbolt!''
Magnezone hummed loudly in response, and the flabbergasted Lucario suddenly began to float upward, as he was carried aloft by an unknown force. It took Ash a moment to perceive what was happening; Lucario's steel Sub-type made him vulnerable to magnetic field emanated from Magnezone's body. His paws with their steel spikes were pulled up from his sides, drawn towards Magnezone and threatening to pull him away. Electricity crackled from the antennae atop Magnezone's head, charging a Thunderbolt. And as inevitable it was, Lucario found his body glued against Magnezone's fusible metallic hide.
Howling wasn't going to help. Independent as he was, he could really use one of Ash's tricky unpredictable moves right now, before he was zapped to rust.
''Bone Rush and smack repeatedly!'' Ash called out. With a ground type move in hand, Lucario won't feel the brunt of the Thunderbolt. However, that proved fruitless, as Lucario's ten times effort couldn't free his hands from being agglutinated.
''Damn it your hands are glued too!''
And finally, Growing impatient of the jackal, Magnezone unleashed a brutal flash of electricity. Eyes shut tight and fangs bared, Lucario bore the pressure until Magnezone reach a limit where you don't violate any rules in a Pokemon battle. Lucario's lips curved upward, stout body hedged by a few errant flickers of static.
''Should've taught you to use something from your mouth,'' Ash cursed, before an idea jolted in his brain. ''Hey, wait a sec!'' He cherished.
''It's over AK!'' Wally retorted.
''It's not over until I say so,'' Ash bit. "That's what the protagonist always say anyway…''
''What?'' Wally raised a brow. What does he mean 'protagonist?''
''Nothing,'' Ash coughed, turning to his irate Pokemon. ''Lucario, we got to use a move we didn't use for a long time, buddy. Use Force Palm. That will break the magnetism!''
''RAWW!'' Lucario smirked. Yeah, that could work. And if the 'work' was delivering Magnezone some pain. With no difficulty to place his paws on the steel hide, Lucario unleashed twin bursts of potent aura, repeatedly. Magnezone screech, in quite a bit of pain after Lucario's relentless assault, new after the another. It was a fool, to not have the jackal crisped whilst using Thunderbolt.
Gradually, distance was created between Lucario and Magnezone, and the former once more at the mercy of gravity, dropping out of midair on all fours.
''Power-Up- Punch!'' Ash balled a fist, tightening it to emphasize the fighting spirit.
Once again, Lucario reared a mighty blow, which it delivered directly to Magnezone's face, sending it spiralling across the cavern room, eliciting a buzzing noise that sounded rather similar to a cry of pain as it flew until it struck the wall with a loud clamour, and again when it dropped to the floor.
The dust didn't have to fully clear for Wally to know his Pokémon would not be getting up again. Wordlessly, he returned Magnezone to its ball, and the now familiar tightness snaked its way back into his chest. What was happening? All he had was now one Pokemon left, and he didn't even manage to injure a single one of Ash's.
Was this truly as far as he could go?
Is a Champion really this strong?
No, his team was strong too, they had been doing well until now… Then it had to have been something else. He has been against and even beaten the Hoenn's mightiest. Brendan Birch, Norman Maple, and even Sidney of the Elite Four.
Then what went wrong?
Staring hard at the figure in front of him, a wave of unease washed over him. He could feel Ash's gaze boring into him, and although the Champion said nothing, Wally still felt the pressure bearing down on him. He knew he was stalling for time, but he still couldn't figure out how to turn the match around. His hand twitched at his side, first over one pokeball, then another. No, not that one, this one. No, not even this one, maybe that one..
Wait! He hadn't crossed the entirety of the region by waiting to see what came to him. He hadn't earn eight Gym badges by sitting on his heels. He didn't down many trainers with decisive victories, just be shaking right now. He hadn't trained a team of six powerful Pokémon to play second fiddle to their opponents.
Unconsciously, he squeezed the Pokeball in his hand even tighter.
No more waiting, no more hesitating. His gaze shot up to lock with the Champion's own, and for the first time it felt like he was actually able to stand up against the legend's presence.
Marshaling all his strength at the cost of his strength, he threw his last and ultimate choice forward.
Out of the Pokeball, light squirmed out taking the presence of a Gallade, who swiped the air with some of its fighting techniques, to bring the martial artist within.
Scanning Gallade up and down, Ash , experimental as always, returned Lucario in exchange of another of his comrade. "Feraligatr, I choose you!''
Answering his trainer's cry with one of his own, The Big Jaw Pokemon burst from its ball in a full lumbering stride. Gallade barely had time to register its new opponent before the water type displayed his enthusiasm, with a playful prance, just the joy for being out of his Pokeball.
''Feraligatr, Ice Punch!'' Ash made the command.
''Gallade, Teleport!''
Feraligatr, too excited to get things started roared in reply, ice coursing through his fist, as the croc thundered towards Gallade. Sadly, the punch could only pass through a stream of multicolored lines as Gallade took leave of sight. Swooshing in front of the cave wall, it reappeared, drawing Feraligatr's attention.
''Psycho Cut!'' Wally added.
Gallade jumped back and whipped its arms around, sending a couple of purples crescent out for Feraligatr. Sparing Ash to point it out for him, the gator's unique dancing skills helped the big Pokemon evade those slices just in the knick of time.
''Let's try our new move! Waterfall!'' Ash cried out, tossing his hands in the air.
Feraligatr roared loudly, his jaw opening wide. From the ceiling of the cave, a huge torrent of gushing water rained down upon them, enveloping both the Pokemon in column. Being a natural swimmer, Feraligatr was already guarding the top, whereas Gallade wasn't very thrilled by the sudden downpour.
''Leaf Blade to defend yourself while moving backwards!''
Wally's call immediately reached Gallade and its eyes flashed up. The Blade Pokemon's elbows glowed green, its leafy blade extending threateningly. Slashing at an invisible opponent in the waterfall, the actions kept the Pokemon jerking backwards where the exit was.
''Not if we freeze the whole column! Ice Punch!''
All Feraligatr had to do was charge his fists with that familiar cyan blue energy. The element would take care of the rest. The waterfall began to thicken, frost targeting the bottom first, slowly spreading to the top. The water began to freeze slowly, and if continued, Wally feared the opposition will have all the opening they need. Gallade was in such a situation, it couldn't go below as there was ice, it couldn't exit the Waterfall as there was Feraligatr swimming along in it. The only way to burst from a Waterfall was…
''Swim upwards and use Close Combat!'' the frail boy snapped.
Puffing its cheeks and storing up the air in lungs, Gallade thrust its legs back and forth swimming to the top, simultaneously punching and swiping in the water to make an opening.
''You looking for exit? Here's one if you want it so badly, Aqua Tail!''
Doing exactly as it was told, Feraligatr loosened up its large tail inside the column and began twirling it, twisting the torrent they were inside, into a ferocious eddy, warping into a raging vortex. A terrible cyclone caught Gallade by the feet, and thus another name was added to his troubles.
Luckily, Feraligatr lost control as 'Waterfall' aforementioned was his newly learned move he had not mastered properly yet. The Whirlpool-Waterfall combo faltered and both Pokemon were washed away on the ground. One too joyful, another vexed.
''Teleport and Leaf Blade!'' Wally took advantage of the timing and made a move.
Not even having properly stood yet, Gallade sneaked about and reappeared in front of the big gator and slashed across the mid section with the green extension. The Big Jaw Pokemon bellowed in pain, staggering backwards. Add a Close Combat, and Gallade got a payback for being trapped in the Waterfall.
''Alright then. If it's hand to hand you want, then Dragon Dance!'' Ash grimaced.
A red glow emanated from Feraligatr's flesh and he crowed. Thumping the floor, he left cracks and tremors taking birth in the ground. The aura shifted to a bluish one, and Feraligatr's muscles flexed. When the outline abated, the body had become slicker but the muscles were thick and ripe.
''Close Combat!''
The psychic type began to unload a powerful barrage of punches and kicks. But was any of them touching their mark? That story couldn't find an ending as each attempt of Gallade was painfully made fun of. It really hated three words right now: duck, leap and side. Finally, its own arms and thighs gave away, as it took a pause for breath.
Having Gallade right where he wanted, Ash followed. ''Ice Punch!''
The light blue swirl covered Feraligatr's fist before being encased in ice as he drove it right into Gallade's face, earning a loud cry of pain, as the Pokemon went skidding through the floor. The punch was so nimble, if Wally had just a second before, he would have used it against the adversary with a Teleport.
''Gallade…'' his voice barely became a whisper.
A curt chuckle caught his attention as Ash pocketed Feraligatr's now occupied Pokeball, sighting that the fully evolved starter type was recalled. Ash gave a genuine grin. "Well, I had fun."
Wally creaked a weak smile, and did the same, clipping Gallade's Pokeball away.
''That was a great battle Ash,'' Wally bobbed before retrying. ''I didn't have so much fun since my battle at the Ever Grande Conference. You made me realize that I need to push real through to achieve my dreams.''
''Indeed…Maybe next time we meet, we can compare.'' Ash grinned.
''Anytime, till then I am gonna train super hard!'' Wally flexed with gusto.
''Looking forward to it,'' Ash gave a thumps-up, before scrunching his face to a serious look. ''Oh hey, there was something I have been meaning to ask you. Isn't Brendan Birch kinda your, let's say, rival?''
''Neck-to-neck. One would say almost equal.'' Wally laughed, ''Why?''
''Nothing…'' Ash whistled. ''Just curious…''
And that was Chapter No 35. Done and now forward.
Something I wanted to run past you all, is that after Hoenn, I am planning Ash to revisit Kanto. The reason being that, I have received many suggestions for Ash to battle the Elite Four, and then, there's Ritchie. Also I missed Fuschia City Gym and Greta, the Frontier Brain. So I'll squeeze in a reason, make Ash go back to Kanto, and battle him with the intended. And then, Sinnoh…
Damn, excited for Korrina's return in the next episode of 'Pokemon Journeys'. One thing that makes 2020 a little less worse.
Here are the list:
Next on ABR:
1) Flannery
2) Winona
3) Rafe
Adios!