Here we go!
Krookodile gave Shedninja a leering smile, peering at him over the top of his sunglasses.
Shedninja remained as unmoving as ever, giving no indication of what it felt.
"Alright Krookodile, Crunch!" Ash shouted. A dark aura morphed around the crocodile's jaws and he charged Shedninja. To Ash's surprise, Shedninja made no attempt to move as Krookodile drew near. Just as he was nearly on top of Shedninja, Krookodile snapped his jaws shut... On empty air.
Suddenly, Shedninja appeared, just behind Krookodile.
"Bug Buzz." Shedninja fired a beam of red light from its eyes, hitting Krookodile squarely in the back of his head.
Krookodile staggered forwards from the impact, then snarled.
"Now, Will-o-wisp." Purple fire gathered in front of Shedninja's body.
"Dig!" Ash shouted. In a flash, Krookodile burrowed into the earth, moments before Shedninja fired the ball of fire. The flames struck the ground, then dispersedly harmlessly.
A second later, Krookodile popped from the ground under Shedninja and crashed into him. Once again, however, the attack seemed to do nothing. Ash stared in confusion. How could both Dig and Leaf Blade be completely ineffective against Shedninja? It should only be invulnerable to fighting and normal type moves. Unless... Hadn't he fought something like this before?
As Krookodile moved a distance away, Ash's mind raced. Tobias hadn't bothered dodging Dig or Leaf Blade. But he had dodged Crunch, which meant some moves were effective. But when had he seen this before- Then it hit him. All the way back when he'd traveled with May and Max. Wonder Guard. It protected a pokemon from attacks that weren't super effective! A smile crossed his face. Now that he knew what was happening, he could counter it
"Phantom Force," Tobias called calmly.
"Stone Edge!" Ash cried. Krookodile let out a loud snarl, then punched his fist straight into the earth. Glowing blue stones surged across the battlefield toward Sheninja.
Shedninja vanished unexpectedly. A moment later, the stones passed through where it had been. It emerged directly behind Krookodile, from his shadow, and slammed into Krookodile hard, sending him stumbling.
Panting, Krookodile whirled on Shedninja, only for it to dart away. Ash, however, was concerned was something other than Shedninja's incredible speed. Krookodile was already looking tired, despite only having taken two hits. Krookodile was one of his toughest pokemon from Unova, especially when it came to taking a hit. Clearly, Tobias' Shedninja was both fast and incredibly powerful. He had to act quickly.
"Okay Krookodile, Crunch, one more time." Krookodile lunged at Shedninja. Yet once again, it slipped to the side at the very last moment, then fired another close-range Bug Buzz attack. This time, the blow knocked Krookodile into the ground, stunning him briefly.
"Now, Will-o-wisp," Tobias said. Shedninja charged the purple fireball.
"Block it, with Stone Edge," Ash called. Just as Shedninja launched the fireball, Krookodile struck the ground. A single stone shot up, shattering the fireball before it could hit him.
Tobias frowned. "Phantom Force." Shedninja's body melted into shadows and it disappeared.
Ash tensed up, and Krookodile's head jerked from side to side as it tried to see where Shedninja would appear from. It emerged suddenly just a few feet behind Krookodile.
"Dig!" Krookodile dove underground just in time to avoid getting hit by another Will-o-wisp. This time, however, Krookodile emerged a good distance away from Shedninja, his head poking from the ground as he glared at his opponent.
Ash gritted his teeth together. This battle was not going well at all. Krookodile hadn't even gotten one hit! And he'd taken some heavy damage. If the fight continued like this, Krookodile would be defeated. He couldn't let that happen. But how could he fight Shedninja like this? It was fast, skilled at close quarters and dodging, and hit incredibly hard. How could Krookodile land a hit? He stared at Shedninja. It had beat Sceptile by burning him, and Tobias seemed determined to hit with Will-o-wisp. It was the one very consistent thing about Shedninja, it seemed.
"That's it!" Krookodile jumped slightly at his shout and glanced at him. "I've got a plan, Krookodile. Ready?" Krookodile smirked and nodded, flashing his teeth.
"Shedninja, Bug Buzz." Shedninja's eyes shimmered red, and it fired a beam of red energy straight at Krookodile.
"Dodge!" Ash shouted. Krookodile moved nimbly to the side, the beam missing his head by a couple inches.
"Will-o-wisp!" A ball of purple fire shot across the field at Krookodile.
Ash grinned. Perfect. "Alright, Krookodile. Take that Will-o-wisp and Crunch right through it!"
Eyes glimmering in delight, Krookodile leaped into the ball of flames, dark jaws open wide. For a second, he seemed to vanish. Then his jaws burst from the fireball and, still cloaked in the ghostly fire, snapped shut around Shedninja.
Shedninja shifted and jerked wildly in Krookodile's grasp, but the ground-type held it tight.
"Now!" Ash shouted. "Finish it with Stone Edge!" Krookodile placed his jaws against the ground, then struck it with his claws. A massive stone erupted from the earth and into Shedninja, sending both pokemon flying into the air. Krookodile recovered and landed, panting lightly but standing tall. Shedninja careened wildly towards the ground. A moment before it hit, red light encapsulated it, and it was drawn back into its pokeball.
"The battle was over," Tobias stated calmly.
"Shedninja was unable to battle. Krookodile is the winner," the referee declared.
In the stands...
Cilan shook his head. "How strange. Ash had Krookodile attack right through the Will-o-wisp, even though it burned him."
"I get it!" iris said excitedly. "Ash must have known Shedninja was too good at dodging to keep attacking regularly. So he let Krookodile take the hit and use the fire as cover to counterattack."
"I see. A clever, but dangerous strategy," Cilan replied.
Iris just smiled. "Ash knows what he's doing," she said calmly.
...
Tobias smiled faintly. "I have to say, I didn't expect you to have Krookodile attack like that. Not many people have managed to overcome Shedninja's agility and speed. Using my own own attack as a shield? That's a bold move."
"Thank you," Ash replied earnestly. He gazed proudly at Krookodile. "Your Shedninja was incredible. It really was the only way for Krookodile to land a hit."
Flames suddenly erupted around Krookodile's body, making him growl and squeeze his eyes shut as the burn damage kicked in.
Ash grimaced at the sight. It had been necessary, but now the battle had gotten a lot harder.
Tobias withdrew his next pokeball, one with an orange top and yellow patches, and tossed it. "Go!" he cried. Light and sparkles flashed from the pokeball as its inhabitant emerged.
The pokemon that appeared was like nothing he had ever seen. A tall, lean white reptile with a slender body and whip-like tail stood on the battlefield. Rich purple scales covered its belly and pink markings traced the sides of its body. Its eyes gleamed lavender and its pure white scales seemed to shimmer in the sunlight.
"Who's that Pokemon?" Ash gaped.
Fortunately, the announcer filled in the blanks.
Folks, we've got ourselves an honest to goodness exotic pokemon here at the league! That is a Salazzle, a pokemon only ever found in the far off islands of Alola. This species is unique in that only the female is capable of evolving. Not only is it impossible to find anywhere else, but this particular Salazzle is also shiny! The odds of finding a pokemon like this is... well let's just say you may never see another for your whole life."
Ash blinked, then glanced up at the screen as the default image of a Salazzle appeared on the screen. Instead of pure white scales, he saw that they normally possessed smoky gray scales. "Whoah..." he breathed.
Ooo's and aah's filled the stadium as they took in the shiny pokemon. Truly, the Salazzle was gorgeous to behold.
"Are you ready?" Tobias asked, smiling confidently. Ash stared at the Salazzle, who flicked her tongue out and eyed Krookodile, not unlike a Spearow eyeing a Caterpie. She looked dangerous, for sure. He'd have to be careful.
"Krookodile-" he began. Krookodile and growled and glanced back at him, then shook his head. "You can keep fighting, Krookodile?" he asked. Krookodile flashed a toothy grin and nodded. Ash chuckled to himself. Honestly, he expected nothing less, especially from Krookodile. "Let's do this then."
Krookodile turned his gaze back to Salazzle and snarled. She hissed in return, her hiss shifting into a throaty cackle. A grin spread across her narrow snout. Then the match began.
Flames wrapped around Krookodile's form and he grimaced as his burn sapped his strength.
"Gunk Shot," Tobias called. Salazzle jaws opened wide, wider than Ash thought possible, and she spat a massive, gooey blob of poison across the field. It arced through the air, headed straight for Krookodile.
"Dodge it with Dig!" Ash called. In a flash, Krookodile burrowed into the earth. A half-second later, the poisonous heap of sludge hit the earth and sizzled threateningly. Krookodile burst from the ground just feet behind Salazzle. "Superpower!" Ash shouted. An aura of energy flared around Krookodile then gathered into his claws, turning them vivid orange. He struck in rapid succession, landing a powerful one-two strike on Salazzle.
"Fire Lash," Tobias said coolly. Salazzle lunged into the air with unexpected grace, and spun swiftly. As she spun, flames sparked up all along her tail, doubling its length.
"Get outta there with Dig," Ash said.
Krookodile lunged toward the ground again, but Salazzle acted quicker. She landed, whipped her tail out, and slashed Krookodile across his chest. A roar of fury erupted from his jaws, as he was thrown aside. He tumbled across the battlefield, leaving a cloud of dust. As the dust settled, and he pushed himself to his feet, Ash could see a line of soot across Krookodile's scales where he'd been hit. Krookodile dusted his scales off, straightened his sunglasses, and snarled back at Salazzle, determined to show his strength.
"Salazzle, its time for Nasty Plot."
A smirk played across the lizards maw. Her body swayed nearly hypnotically, a red aura pulsing around her form. The aura spiked and surged around her and her eyes flashed briefly as her power increased.
"Krookodile, use Stone Edge now." Krookodile slammed his claw into the ground, sending stones straight at Salazzle.
Moments before they struck, Tobias called his command. "Breaking Swipe." Salazzle's tail flicked side to side, a red and blue glowing forming all around it. She sprang elegantly into the air, then twisted herself into a rapid spin and brought her tail crashing against the stones. Each and every stone shattered the instant they made contact with her tail. She slashed her way through them in a moment, then, as she broke the final one, she whipped to a stop, opened her jaws, and fired a powerful Gunk Shot straight at Krookodile.
The acidic ooze splashed Krookodile directly in the face, eliciting a furious snarl. He fell backward, clawing the ooze of his face. Flames surged across his body once again, and he howled furiously.
"Crunch!" His fury gave him an edge, and Krookodile snapped his head forward and bit down on Salazzle's tail. The fire-type hissed in rage.
"Get it off," Tobias commanded. She lifted her tail high into the air, Krookodile still clinging on, then whipped it back and forth in the air. The sheer force of her movements flung Krookodile off, sending him flying towards the ground.
"Use Stone Edge into the ground!" Ash cried. Krookodile righted himself in the air and landed, claw first, sendings spikes of stone flying towards Salazzle. One erupted directly underneath her, making her stagger. She recovered and twisted smoothly with the hit before slithering forward. "Breaking Swipe!" In a single motion, she twisted, then swung her tail at Krookodile. The motion happened as nothing more than a blur, followed by a sharp, audible crack as it connected with Krookodile's body.
The blow sent Krookodile sliding several feet and elicited a cry of shock from the ground-type. Ash could see the scuffs on his scales from where Salazzle had hit him. Maybe it was time to call him back-
Suddenly, blazing red light shrouded Krookodile. His form turned almost luminescent, and his claws and jaws seemed to grow longer. Throwing his head back, he opened his jaws and let out a roar. Silence fell across the entire stadium for a full five seconds. Ash's jaw dropped.
A surge of flames washed across Krookodile's body, but he shook it off, his eyes glowing pure red. Energy literally poured off Krookodile, so much so that Ash thought he could feel it even from where he stood.
In the stands...
"What is that?" Iris yelped.
"Incredible! That's Anger Point in action!" Cilan replied, eyes gleaming with delight.
"That maxes out a pokemon attack when they're hit by a critical, doesn't it?" Iris asked excitedly.
Cilan nodded. "This may be just the edge Ash needs."
...
A wide grin spread across Ash's face. A quick check with his Pokedex had revealed the cause - Anger Point, a special ability that Krookodile's could have. Apparently, it maxed their attack when they were hit by a critical hit. "Awesome Krookodile! Your Anger Point maxed your attack! Let's use that." Krookodile roared in agreement.
"Dig, but stay close to the surface!" Giving a sharp nod, Krookodile dove into the ground. For several seconds, he didn't emerge, and Ash smiled. Krookodile knew exactly what to do. Seconds later, he popped out of the ground, this time several feet behind Salazzle.
"Fire Lash," Tobias snapped out the command quickly. The familiar fire grew along Salazzle's tail and she stepped forwards. She sank halfway into the earth immediately, dirt smothering out flames on her tail. A hiss of utter shock escaped her jaws.
"Now! Superpower!" The red aura that surrounded Krookodile flared, doubling the size of his claws and turning them bright orange and red with power. He exploded forwards and slammed Salazzle mercilessly with a series of rapid slashes before leaping away before she could counter.
Salazzle threw her head back and let out a howling hiss. She writhed about and yanked herself free from the dirt, eyes blazing, and poisonous saliva gathering in her maw.
More flames surged around Krookodile and he snarled, faltering. His breath came in gasps now, and Ash could see him trembling. Despite the boost he'd received, he was ready to collapse. One more hit might end it. This time, Ash didn't hesitate. "Krookodile, return." He took out the pokeball and returned the ground-type. He gazed fondly at the pokeball. "Sorry, Krookodile. But you've done more than enough for now. Thank you."
And it was true. Krookodile had defeated Shedninja and had done serious damage to Salazzle. Even if had taken all his strength, Krookodile had really given his all. That was all he could ask for any of his pokemon.
Stands
"Oh man, Tobias' Salazzle is so strong," Iris murmured, worry in her tone. "Even after that hit Krookodile landed, it's still standing."
Cilan nodded seriously in agreement. "I have to say, I expect no less from such a masterful trainer. His way of blending strength and skill is like a perfectly seasoned roast."
"Yeah... sure."
...
Tobias relaxed slightly, then nodded approvingly. "A good choice. No need to lose any more pokemon." Salazzle however, looked extremely disappointed, unlike her trainer.
Ash didn't reply. He was more concerned with choosing who to send next. Even after the blows Krookodile had dealt, Salazzle was still looking as strong as ever. Clearly, it was incredibly powerful. And that tail of hers was dangerous too. He looked down at Pikachu, who waited patiently by his side.
"Ready buddy?" Pikachu's eyes lit up and he gave an excited squeak, sparks flaring on his cheeks.
Salazzle swayed side to side, her disappointment replaced by a predatory gaze at the sight of the small mouse pokemon.
Confidence filled Ash. He still had three of his pokemon left, and he'd managed to defeat three of Tobias pokemon. Maybe he could do this. "Alright Pikachu, let's do this!"
HAH HA! Another chapter, done! I'm very satisfied with this one, I think. I like the idea of Tobias having a strange Shedninja that excels with close quarters movements. And uses Wonder Guard. In the end, the only way for Ash to get the upper hand was to do the last thing Tobias would expect - take the hit, get burned, and deal a powerful blow.
Then we see Tobias 4th pokemon an albino Salazzle. Yes, I decided to give him exotic pokemon because I feel like he would have them. And I also think if Pokemon had the chance to be a cohesive universe, we would see more pokemon outside the current region.
And boy is it strong! A bolt of inspiration made me decide to give Krookodile Anger Point. Yet even with that awesome boost and the hit, Salazzle is still standing. I hope you all enjoyed this one.
Also, did you know the odds of finding a shiny female Salandit in SM are like... crazy low? One in 3/25600.
If anyone is wondering why ash says he has three pokemon left and not 5, its because Both Primeape and Krookodile are severely weakened and basically out for the count.
Okay, review time! Btw, I'm really beginning to enjoy replying to these reviews!
Magicfan18: Yay! I wanted it to be epic, so I'm glad you found it so. Also glad you like Shedninja, I really want Tobias team to feel unique from some of the other fics I've read. Nothing wrong with those of course, I just like to be different.
daDragon: Mega's would be amazing, but I feel like it wouldn't fit with Ash, only because I had no time to add that buildup for him. Although that just applies to Ash... ;)
Reader: It would be cool, for sure. But ultimately, I wanted to give Sceptile a 'super' move like Leaf Storm. Glad to hear I surprised you, thats what I was aiming for with Tobias team. I don't know about being a chosen one, though that is a cool idea for Tobias. Recently, I see him as a cool dude who wanted some strong pokemon and worked hard to get them. Plus he's older, like 20's, so he's had a lot of time to travel the world.
Thank you!
Guest1: Whoops! Thank you for pointing out that error, I fixed it ^.^
Guest2: You are right, Sandstorm or Hail aren't included in wonder Guard. In the games, Shedninja will faint immediately if you use Sandstorm. Of course, Ash basically never uses status moves...
Cybresamurai: I like the way you think. Because that's exactly what I always thought this whole time. Tobias can't have a team of all legendaries, since at least one of his pokemon had to help catch them. Which means he has a pokemon scarier than Latios or Darkrai. Wonder what it is...