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Chapter 23
"Armaldo is unable to battle. Snorlax wins."
"Cradily, come out to battle," Steven called his next Pokemon.
"Alright Snorlax, let's attack. Use Last Resort."
"Block it with Stone Edge." The Stone Edge just managed to block the powerful Last Resort but it was just a distraction as Snorlax had moved next to its opponent.
"Ice Punch."
"Dodge it Cradily." Cradily almost dodged it as some part of its body was hit by the ice-type move causing it some pain from the super-effective attack, even though, it hadn't landed perfectly.
Ash now decided to change his tactics. "Snorlax, you have done enough. Have a nice sleep. You were wonderful as always buddy." He recalled his Snorlax and revealed the next Pokemon.
"It's time to battle, old friend." He called out one of his oldest Pokemon. Many in the crowd were surprised at the choice as the flying type would be at a serious disadvantage against Cradily.
"It is our turn to attack, Cradily. Use Stone Edge."
"Up and dodge it." Pidgeot was way too fast for Cradily as it flew up.
"Use Rock Slide."
"Dodge it." Pidgeot once again dodged the attack.
"Ancient Power." While Pidgeot was busy dodging the Rock Slide, Cradily sent out another rock-type move, that hit its mark.
"Pidgeot, are you alright?" Ash got an affirmative response from his Pokemon.
"Again Rock Slide." Steven was hoping to get a hit this time.
"Double Team." Pidgeot multiplied itself in the air as the Rock Slide hit its fake copies. "Now, Hurricane."
"Cradily, dodge it." Cradily somehow manage to dodge the attack
"Use Sky Attack."
"Stone Edge to counter," Steven called the move to counter the attack.
"Move to your left." Pidgeot was fast enough to dodge the attack.
"Counter it with Ancient Power." The Sky Attack landed on its target and before Pidgeot could move away from there, the Ancient Power hit its mark. Both the Pokemon flinched.
"Pidgeot use Hurricane once more."
"Block it with Stone Edge." Steven was solely reliant on the rock-type moves, as grass-type attacks were not effective on Pidgeot.
"Pidgeot, go for another Sky Attack."
"Cradily, use Brine."
"Pidgeot, take it and keep going." Though Pidgeot slowed down a bit and took some damage from the move, it still landed the Sky Attack on its opponent.
"Cradily, use Ancient Power."
"Pidgeot, dodge it and use Hurricane." Pidgeot dodged it successfully and sent its next attack.
"Block with Stone Edge." The Hurricane broke through the Stone edge with its power but didn't reach its target.
"Now use Double Team."
"Use Rock Slide to take out the fake copies." The Rock Slide started cancelling out the Double Team but Ash was aware to call the next attack.
"Use Sky Attack." Pidgeot was extremely fast as the Sky Attack landed on Cradily who went down.
"Cradily, get up." Cradily slowly managed to get up. Ash waited for Steven to call out the next attack.
"Use Rock Slide again," Steven called the super effective attack again.
"Double Team and move in close." All copies of Pidgeot moved in towards Cradily with full speed.
"Use Brine in all directions." Steven knew there was no way out Cradily could dodge. He hoped to stop the real Pidgeot.
"Finish it with Steel Wing full power." The attack came from behind and landed perfectly on Cradily. It tried to stand and continue the battle but couldn't. Ash Pidgeot was just too powerful for Cradily to handle.
"Cradily is unable to battle. Pidgeot wins." The referee announced.
"You did well Cradily, now take some good rest," Steven recalled his Pokemon.
"That was a great battle Ash, but it is far from over. I am going to go all out." Steven said with a smile. He was enjoying this battle. So was Ash.
"I wouldn't expect anything less Steven because I will give my everything," Ash replied returning his smile.
"Then here is my next partner. It is time to come out, Aggron." Steven called his next Pokemon, one of his strongest.
"Pidgeot, you did a great job. Time for some rest." Ash recalled Pidgeot and took out another Pokeball. "Let's see how you handle my next Pokemon. Golurk, let's win this."
"I am going all out this time. Aggron, with the power of our bond, mega evolve."
"Then we will start the battle. Use Shadow Punch, Golurk." Aggron could not dodge the Shadow Punch as it was bound to hit its target.
"Aggron, use Flash Cannon."
"Stop it with Shadow Ball." The two attacks collided in the air and created a cloud of smoke.
"Now use Iron Tail."
"Bulldoze." The attacks landed on either Pokemon though Aggron took more damage due to the super-effective ground-type move. But Iron Tail was just a set-up from Steven's side.
"Ice Punch." The Ice Punch hit its mark before Golurk could dodge it.
"I am impressed but you are gonna have to do better than that," Ash told Steven before calling the next attack. "Use Shadow Punch."
"Aggron, take it and use Flash Cannon again."
"Block it with Shadow Ball."
"Iron Tail," Steven called the next move. It was going in the same way like the previous time but Ash decided to change the tactics.
"Catch it." Golurk held on to Aggron taking some damage as Aggron tried to get free. "Focus Punch."
Perfect hit! Aggron was forced back but still held its ground.
"Golurk, use High Horsepower," Ash called the next move immediately.
"Aggron, use Darkest Lariat." The two attacks landed on each other as both Pokemon were pushed back wincing in pain. Both were hit with super-effective attacks causing a lot of damage to each other.
"Aggron, use Flash Cannon," Steven called the next attack at the same time as Ash.
"Shadow Punch." This time both the attack hit their opponents as the trainers were looking for the end it.
"Use Ice Punch/Focus Punch." Both the trainers shouted as the Pokemon gave their everything into it as the attack landed perfectly.
To everyone's surprise, both Pokemon were still standing, willing to continue.
"Alright Golurk, Shadow Ball."
"Counter it with Iron Tail." The Shadow Ball was deflected.
"Now High Horsepower with full strength.'
"Darkest Lariat with full power." Both the Pokemon landed their hits on each other.
The whole stadium was waiting in anticipation to see who would be standing as one of them fell.
"Golurk is unable to battle, Mega Aggron wins." The referee announced. Before anyone had time to react to this announcement, Mega Aggron reverted to Aggron and fainted.
"Aggron is also unable to battle. It is a double knockout." The crowd went crazy at the result of the battle.
"You did an amazing job, Golurk. Take a good rest now." Ash returned his Pokemon smiling. It looked like he was a bit upset in losing his first Pokemon but he was proud of Golurk. He knew it had done an exceptional job in knocking out Mega Aggron, which was Steven's one of the most powerful Pokemon.
"You were wonderful again, Aggron. Take a nice rest." Steven returned Aggron thanking it.
"That was probably the battle of the day, people. Two powerhouses knocking down each other. It looked like Golurk had the type-advantage but Steven had a few moves up his sleeve to knock down The Champion's first Pokemon of the tournament. That's right people, Ash Ketchum's unbeaten streak has finally been broken. Let's see what more surprises are there in the store." The commentator announced.
"Trainers call out your next Pokemon."
"Your time has come, my friend," Ash called out his Pokemon first. It was Dragalge, the poison-dragon type.
Steven smiled. He had the perfect Pokemon for this. "It is time to battle, Claydol."
"Use Shadow Ball," Ash called the first attack and it was the one that was supposed to be his element of surprise.
"Dodge it and use Earth Power," Steven called out the attack as Claydol dodged.
"Dodge it and use Shadow Ball again." Dragalge dodged it and sent another Shadow Ball.
"Use Psybeam to block it." The Psybeam countered the Shadow Ball.
"Use Shadow Ball again."
"Again, use Psybeam to block.' Again, the same result.
"Shadow Ball once more."
"Claydol, use Ancient Power." This time the Ancient Power blocked the Shadow Ball.
"Shadow Ball, once more." Everyone in the stadium including Steven was thinking what was Ash doing. It was like he had nothing to go on except this one move. Steven knew Ash was up to something but it was kind of frustrating that the battle was going nowhere.
"Claydol dodge it and use Psybeam." Steven had done enough defending. Now it was his turn to attack.
"Dodge it." Dragalge dodged the attack again.
"Now use Zen Headbutt," Steven called the next super-effective attack.
Ash didn't call his move until the very last moment so that, Claydol wouldn't be able to pull out of the attack.
"Night Slash." Dragalge dodge the incoming attack at the last instance and landed the Night Slash on its target.
'Dragalge can learn Night Slash? Doesn't matter if it can. The fact that it has is enough to change my strategy.' Steven thought and called the next attack.
"Use Psychic." Another super-effective move.
"Take it and use Nasty Plot." The whole crowd was shocked as nothing happened to Dragalge. The psychic-type move should have done a lot of damage but Dragalge stood as if immune to the attack.
"Claydol, use Earth Power again."
"Dodge it." This time though Ash's Pokemon was wasn't completely successful in dodging the move and took a little damage. What happened next surprised everyone.
In place of Dragalge, stood the Illusion Fox Pokemon, Zoroark. Steven was unable to register for a moment about what had just happened. Ash took advantage of the momentary shock and called the next move.
"Use Night Slash."
"Claydol, dodge it." Claydol successfully dodged it only just but wasn't ready for the next attack.
"Dark Pulse" The super-effective attack from close range was on target. Claydol was down but not out. But Ash was not going to give it a chance to recover.
"Dark Pulse again."
"Dodge it Claydol." But it couldn't dodge. The super-effective attack at double power, hitting twice from point-blank range, was too much for the ground-psychic type Pokemon to handle. Before Claydol could gather whatever little energy it had, Zoroark was already into the next attack.
"End this with Night Slash."
"Claydol is unable to battle. Zoroark wins." This was the shortest battle in the match.
Steven was still absorbing how the tables turned in the battle. It was a master move from the Champion. He recalled Claydol, thanking it. He may have lost four of his Pokemon, but he was going to give his very best.
"Skarmory, it's time to take the stage." He called out his next Pokemon.
"Zoroark, let's continue," Ash said implying that he was not switching Pokemon, not yet.
"Skarmory, use Steel Wing," Steven called the first attack.
"Dodge it, and use Nasty Plot." Zoroark successfully dodged the attack and increased its Special Attack again.
"Now use Drill Peck."
"Block it with Night Slash." Both the attacks impacted each other as their trainers called the next move immediately.
"Use Flash Cannon." Steven went on the offensive way while Ash was doing most of the defence work.
"Counter with Dark Pulse." The Dark Pulse hit the Flash Cannon and pushed it back due to the increased power of Zoroark's Special attacks.
"Dodge it Skarmory. Use Steel Wing once more." Steven had no choice but to dodge as he called the next move.
"Block it with Night Slash." Again, the Night Slash impacted and blocked the attack but both Pokemon had taken some damage.
"Use X-Scissor." Steven used his trump card as the two Pokemon we close to each other.
"Zoroark dodge it." Zoroark tried to dodge it but from a very close range, it got hit by the super-effective move as it winced in pain.
"Are you alright Zoroark?" Ash asked concerned and got a positive reply from his Pokemon. "Good job. Now, it's time to hit them back."
"Use Flash Cannon and move forward." Steven was not letting Ash go on the offence.
"Dark Pulse." This time again, the Dark-type move overcame the Flash Cannon and moved towards Skarmory.
"Dodge and X-Scissor." Skarmory went for another hit but the same thing was not going to work against Ash.
"Shadow Ball now," Ash called the attack when Skarmory came close to Zoroark. The Shadow Ball hit its mark as the steel-flying type Pokemon was pushed back.
"Dark Pulse." Ash took the chance and called the next attack which once again hit his opponent's Pokemon before it could dodge.
"Skarmory, are you okay? Hit them with Brave Bird." Skarmory was still raring to go.
"Charge forward and use U-Turn." Both Pokemon impacted, taking damage as Zoroark went back inside his Pokeball. Ash's next Pokemon had entered the battle. Even before it had landed, Ash called out the next attack
"Thunder, Dragalge."
"Dodge it." Skarmory tried to dodge it but was only partially successful as the Thunder hit it towards the rear part of its body. It took a lot of damage from the powerful super-effective move.
"Can you still battle, Skarmory?" Skarmory gave an affirmative response to Steven who called the next move. "Then, use Flash Cannon."
"Counter it with Dragon Pulse." The Dragon Pulse and Flash Cannon cancelled out each other.
"Use Brave Bird." Steven figured he had to get in close for his Pokemon to have some impact as Flash Cannon was not going to work.
"Hit it with Hydro Pump," Ash called the next attack to slow down Skarmory.
"Use Drill Peck and rotate to cut through it." Skarmory rotated and cut through the Hydro Pump to land the attack on its target.
"Take it," Ash said calmly and called the next move. "Thunder."
"Dodge it." Skarmory was way too close to Dragalge to dodge it. The Thunder impacted its target, which caused even more damage because it had gotten wet by taking on the Hydro Pump.
"Skarmory is unable to battle. Dragalge wins."
Steven thanked Skarmory and returned it to its Pokeball. He had just one Pokemon left. It wasn't the first time he had lost to Ash. As a matter of fact, it went better than the last time. Still, he hadn't lost the match yet. He was going to give all he had, no matter the result. He smiled as he sent his next Pokemon.
"It is time to battle, Metagross." He called out his oldest Pokemon, his Shiny Metagross.
"Dragalge, Metagross is fast. So, keep your guard up." Ash had to be careful as he knew Dragalge would find it tough to keep up with the speed of Metagross.
"Metagross, start with Flash Cannon," Steven called the first attack.
"Block it with Hydro Pump." The two attacks collided with each other and cancelled out mid-air.
"Now use Psychic." The psychic-type attack would be super-effective on Dragalge.
"Protect," Ash called the move and then nodded towards Dragalge as to communicate something who returned the gesture. He then called the next attack. "Great work, Dragalge, now, use Poison Tail."
"Take it." Steven thought it must have slipped Ash's mind that Metagross was immune to Poison-type moves. "Poison-type moves don't work on steel-types, Ash."
"Not even as a distraction?" Ash smiled. "Do it now." Steven didn't know what was happening and by the time he realised, a Shadow Ball had hit Metagross who flinched.
"That was great Ash but I am not going down just yet," Steven said as he called the next move. "Use Psychic."
"Use Thunder." Ash knew Dragalge would not be able to Metagross, especially when it mega evolves. So, he decided to cause some damage before the Psychic caught Dragalge.
"Now use Meteor Mash." Metagross held Dragalge and moved forward to land the Meteor Mash. 'Dragalge couldn't move now but could shield itself,' thought Ash.
"Protect and Shadow Ball." The Meteor Mash hit the Protect barrier as Metagross bounced off it. Dragalge then sent the super-effective attack.
"Metagross, use Protect and then Flash Cannon." Steven was ready this time for the Shadow Ball and called out his next offensive attack.
"Use Hydro Pump" Again, the two attacks cancelled out each other.
"Finish it with Zen Headbutt," Steven called another psychic-type move.
"Stop it with Thunder." The Thunder hit Metagross as it took some damage. But it went forward and hit Dragalge with its attack who took more damage. However, Dragalge had done its job.
"You have done enough Dragalge, thank you. Now take some good rest." Ash recalled Dragalge.
"It has been a great battle, Steven. I thank you for that but I am winning this. My next Pokemon will see to that." Ash said smiling.
"Bring it on then." Steven was excited too.
"Your time has come, old friend." Out came one of Ash's strongest Pokemon. If he had to put a team of his six most powerful Pokemon, this Pokemon would be one of them, his fastest Grass-type.
"So, it is a rematch then!" Steven exclaimed.
"Exactly." Ash smiled.
"Then I believe it's time to take this battle to the next level," Steven said grinning.
"You just stole the words out of my mouth," Ash responded cheerfully.
"Key Stone respond to our bond. Metagross Mega evolve."
"Sceptile, let's get stronger with the power of our bond. Mega evolve."
"Metagross, Magnet Rise and use Flash Cannon." Steven started the battle. He used Magnet Rise to be safe. Who knew what Ash had up his sleeve!
"Use Leaf Blade to cut it." Mega Sceptile's Leaf blade cut through the Flash Cannon as if it was nothing. What power!
"Now use Psychic."
"Double Team." Sceptile multiplied himself into several fake copies.
"Use Flash Cannon on all of them," Steven called the move to get rid of the Double Team
"Use Dragon Claw on Metagross." As Metagross, was destroying the fake copies, Sceptile was able to land the Dragon Claw on his opponent. Though it wasn't very effective, Metagross still took some damage.
"Use Meteor Mash," Steven called the next attack.
"Block it with Leaf Blade." The Leaf Blade collided with the Meteor Mash as both Pokemon were forced back due to the impact.
"Use Signal Beam." Steven used his trump card.
"Block it with Leaf Storm." Sceptile was quick enough to use the Leaf Storm to block the incoming attack. Steven looked frustrated.
"Get in close, use Zen Headbutt." Ash smiled as he was waiting for Metagross to get in close.
"Night Slash." Sceptile was too fast for Metagross as it went out of the Zen Headbutt and landed the super-effective attack as Metagross hit the ground.
"Metagross, can you battle." Metagross had not given up yet. On seeing this, Steven called the next attack. "Good then use Meteor Mash."
"Dragon Claw," Ash called the counter move. Just as the attacks were about to hit, Steven changed his tactics called the next attack.
"Dodge it and use Signal Beam." The bug-type move landed on Sceptile who took some damage but shrugged it off.
"Well done but you have to do a lot more than that to take down Sceptile," Ash said as he went on his usual offensive route. "Use Double Team and Leaf Storm."
"Metagross, use Signal Beam on all around." The Double Team along with the Leaf Storm had shielded Sceptile for his next attack
"Night Slash again and again and again."
"Metagross, look for Sceptile and use Meteor Mash." Sceptile used the Night Slash and hit his target once, twice, thrice before the Meteor Mash could block the fourth time. Metagross had taken way too much damage. It barely hung around.
"Double Team again."
"Metagross, use Psychic on all of them."
"End this with Night Slash." Perfect hit once more as Metagross could no longer continue and reverted to its original form. Steven had lost all his Pokemon.
Ash wins. It was the toughest battle he had faced so far since he was betrayed. One can argue about the Championship matches against the Champions in each region. But let's just say that the former champions have also grown stronger over time, in addition to the fact that he would have used his strongest Pokemon in those matches. That's a different discussion altogether, so, lets get back to the story.
I hope you liked the fact that Ash finally lost a Pokemon in this tournament. I had said before that Ash and Serena won't be God-like or overpowered. You got the proof of it in Ch. 21 for Serena and for Ash here it is. I had initially thought of making Pidgeot lose it, but then I didn't want any of Ash's older Pokemon to lose in this match, so, I had to settle for Golurk. And Mega Aggron winning seemed a better option to me than Cradily with a victory. Anyways, how was the Zoroark plan? I have always liked Dragalge, even though I haven't played the games (I don't knoe if it is good in games or not) nor has it appeared much in the anime. I simply like its design and typing (I don't know about you guys). Moving on, Sceptile was always my choice for the final battle. I mean Hoenn Starter against former Hoenn Champion, you might have seen it coming. Do tell if you enjoyed the battle!
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