The Blue Blaze of Battle: Ash vs. The Champion of Galar Part 2
Ash pulled his Infernape's Pokeball off his belt. "Now this brings me back. What are the chances that our last two Pokemon are Infernape and Toxtricity?"
"They're the same Pokemon we battled with in the Galar league," Alex said. "And the result will be the same too."
"Keep telling yourself that," Ash said, winding up and throwing his last Pokeball. Infernape exited the ball and flexed as it let out a loud screech. "Are you ready for this buddy?"
'Oh yeah,' Infernape said as the flame on its head intensified. 'I've been waiting for a rematch against this guy for a long time.'
"Just listen to your instincts," Ash said. "And let the Aura guide you."
"Still feeling good to battle?" Alex said to his Pokemon.
'I'm a little winded, but I'm not givin' up,' Toxtricity said (in a Galarian accent as well.) It ran its hands across its electric mohawk, charging its hands with electricity.
The two opponents encased their bodies in flame and electricity respectively, and flew forward at each other and collided. Infernape punched Toxtricity's face with a right hand engulfed in flame. Toxtricity returned by sending an electric shock wave off its body, stunning Infernape for a couple seconds, which left it open for a Fire Punch/ Drain Punch combo. The two broke apart and landed in front of their respective trainers.
Infernape made the next move, sprinting across the field and climbing up into a tree. Toxtricity ran to the base of the tree and sent another stream of venomous liquid from its mouth, which dissolved the base of the tree. As the tree broke down and fell forward, Infernape flipped off and landed behind Toxtricity. After touching down, Infernape engulfed itself in flames, rolling forward at its foe in a Flame Wheel that slammed into Toxtricity's back. Toxtricity turned and fired many small lightning bolts from its fingertips, which kept Infernape still long enough for Toxtricity to hit it with a direct Boomburst attack. Infernape was sent flying through the air, far out of the wooded area.
"Infernape!" Ash said chasing after his Pokemon. Alex, Toxtricity, and the rest of the group followed to see if the result of the battle had been determined. Ash came up to Infernape who was lying on his back, electricity coursing through its body. He kneeled down to examine his Pokemon, who had remained conscious after being hit. He pulled Infernape's Pokeball off his belt to return it and stop the battle, but as he did, Infernape's eyes widened and glowed bright blue, which was something Ash had never seen before. The only thing that Ash could tell was that his Infernape's Aura was radiating like nothing he had ever seen before.
'Ash,' His Pokemon said. 'I'm going down on my terms. You told me to let the Aura guide me, and that's what I'm gonna do.' Ash grinned and nodded, placing the empty ball back onto his belt. He wasn't sure what had gotten into Infernape, but he was excited to see what would happen next.
Infernape sprung back up to its feet, as the flame on its head grew longer, and burned an intense blue rather than its normal orange flame. Once again, Infernape's Blaze Ability kicked in, but something else was at play here. Infernape then ignited both of its fists in blue flames and darted across the field in order to use Flame Combat. Toxtricity, on the other hand, set one fist on fire while the other glowed orange for its Fire Punch/Drain Punch combo. The two shot across the field at the other and met in the middle with Toxtricity's Drain Punch connecting with Infernape's jaw, while Infernape's attack hit Toxtricity in the side of the head. The two then flew apart from each other once more.
Engulfing itself in a Flare Blitz, it flew away from its trainer and charged head on at Toxtricity. Infernape grabbed onto Toxtricity, still enveloped in flame and sent the two flying into a tree. Toxtricity, who took the brunt of the attack, collapsed at the base of the tree. Infernape jumped away from the opponent and let it rise back up to its feet.
Toxtricity rose up to its feet once more and moved its fingers telling Infernape to bring it. Infernape let out a screech and charged forward with a Flame Wheel, which was blue in color like Infernape's head. Toxtricity then stuck out its arms and caught Infernape's oncoming attack with its hands, and then raised them, which sent Infernape and its attack flying into a tree which bordered the forest behind it. Toxtricity turned and sprinted towards Infernape, with lighting cracking around its body. With a running start, Toxtricity leapt into the air and ran its hand across its chest sending a powerful Overdrive attack at Infernape. Infernape, however, engulfed itself in a Flare Blitz and shot itself at its opponent through the Overdrive attack. The two Pokemon met, causing a large vortex of fire and lightning to erupt on the battlefield.
The two Pokemon broke apart from each other, panting after the intense battle they had. The two stared at each other with intensity in their eyes, awaiting to see which one would give. Their gaze would be broken however, when Infernape and Toxtricity simultaneously crumpled to the ground, both unable to continue on fighting. The blue Aura radiating around Ash's Infernape ceased, which allowed the flame on its head to return to its normal appearance.
"Toxtricity and Infernape are both unable to battle!" Paul announced. "That means this battle ends in a tie!"
"A TIE?!" Alexa and Ross shouted. The two battlers however seemed pleased with the outcome and met their revived Pokemon on the battlefield.
"That was phenomenal, Infernape," Ash said with a wide grin on his face. "You and the rest of the team deserve some nice R and R tonight." Infernape smiled at his trainer as he returned it to its Pokeball.
"You put on quite the performance today, Tox," Alex said, taking his hair tie out of his hair bun and allowing his hair to fall back to its original style. "As always it's great to have you in our corner." The Amped Pokemon grinned, sticking its tongue out in the process. Alex returned his Ace Pokemon, and sprawled out on the ground.
Ash then joined him. "Well I'm pooped."
"Haven't had a battle that fun in ages," Alex said. "You've only improved since the last time we met."
"Same goes for you," Ash said.
"Your Infernape really is something," Alex said. "And here I thought that Lucarios and Riolus were the only Pokemon who could channel their Auras like that."
"Yeah, about that… I don't really know what that was about," Ash said. "Infernape's never done that before."
"Really!?" Alex exclaimed.
"I can vouch for him," Paul said, standing over the two men laying on the ground. "He's never done that before."
"I just assumed you had a Battle Bond with it!"
"No! I only have Battle Bond with my Greninja," Ash said. "But this was different. It was Aura that powered up Infernape like that!"
"If it's alright with you and Infernape, I would love to study it," The Professor said to Ash. "We could have something completely new on our hands here!"
"That was some battle boys," Delia said, approaching the two men who were still on the ground. "How about I whip us all up a nice dish of Galar-Style curry and we settle in for the night."
"Let me give you a hand, Mrs. Ketchum," Alex said, hopping up to his feet. "I have brought over some Gigantamix that really adds to the curry experience."
Author's Note: That was some introductory battle for Professor Alex Peters. With a team based off of some of my favorite Galar Pokemon, he is truly a prodigy when it comes to many aspects of being a trainer.
As for Ash's Infernape, what untapped potential does this new have in store? You're gonna have to wait and see.
-Kid Arceus