Episode 416: Lucas vs Paul
Barry was having his battle with his opponent. Most of Barry's Team had been eliminated, so the only one left standing is his Heracross.Barry's Heracross was up against a Pinsir.
"Heracross! Use Megahorn!" Barry ordered. Heracross charged right at Pinsir.
"Okay, Pinsir! Use Guillotine!" Barry's opponent ordered. Pinsir and Heracross charge at each other. Heracross lifts up Pinsir and sends it flying.
"Barry's Heracross sends Pinsir flying with that Megahorn! And Pinsir is making a pretty nasty fall!" The announcer announced. Pinsir lands on its back. Pinsir tries to get back up, but fell on its back, beaten. The referee raises the green flag.
"Pinsir is unable to battle! Heracross wins! Barry wins the battle!" The referee announced.
"Barry mkes it to the semi-finals! Our next battle shall be begin in a moment!" The announcer announced. Lucas and Paul were having ther battle right away, so Paul had to speak with Lucas before it got started.
"Hey, Lucas, was it? Got a sec?" Paul asked.
"What is it?" Lucas asked.
"I just wanted to say that I'm sorry about what happened in the Hearthome Tag Battle Tournament; about what I did. We would have won that if we just worked together," Paul said.
"It's okay, Paul. Sora already told me," Lucas said. Paul looked right at him surprised. "I had my doubts at first, but Sora can forgive you, then I can too. No one deserves to be used the way you were. Myotismon, Team Galactic, and Hunter J are no longer a threat to us or to anyone else, so let's go out there and give everyone here what they came here for," Lucas said. Paul smiled and nodded.
"You can count on it, Lucas," Paul said.
Both trrainers entered the battlefield to start their battle.
"And now it's time for our third battle of the quarter finals! First we have Lucas from Twinleaf Town versus Paul from Veilstone City!" The announcer announced. Both Lucas and Paul each took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Aggron! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out. Aggron came on out to battle.
"Go! Luxray!" Lucas called out.
"Paul has the first move!" The referee announced.
"Aggron! Metal Claw!" Paul ordered.
"Luxray! Use Thunder Fang!" Lucas ordered. Luxray and Aggron launched at each other, colliding their attacks. Both Aggron and Luxray were evenly matched.
"Aggron and Luxray has displayed their equal power!" The annoucner announced.
"Aggron! use Metal Sound!" Paul ordered. The two horns on Aggron's head starts to glow white and they move back and forth quickly, causing a loud ringing sound to be released. The horns then release light blue sound waves from them at Luxray. Pikachu, Angel, Eevee, Azurill, and Meowth cover their ears.
"Ouch! My ears!" Meowth cried.
"You okay, Meowth?" Patamon asked.
"My ears are hurting!" Meowth cried.
"Metal Sound is a sound-based move that loswers a Pokémon's special defense," Riku said. Luxray roared as the sound was getting to him.
"Luxray! Use Charge Beam!" Luas ordered. Luxray unleashed Charge Beam.
"Aggron! Flash Cannon!" Paul ordered. Aggron unleashed Flash Cannon and the two attacks clashed into each other.
"Aggron and Luxray clashes with each other with Flash Cannon and Charge Beam!" The announcer announced. The two attacks results in an explosion. Both Aggron and Luxray took a bad hit from Charge Beam and Flash Cannon. "Luxray and Aggron has taken a lot of damage from that explosion!"
"Aggron! Use Metal Claw!" Paul ordered.
"Luxray! Dodge and use Thunderbolt!" Lucas ordered. Luxray unleashed Thunderbolt and lands a heavy hit onto the iron armor Pokémon. Aggron was now paralyzed from Luxray's Thunderbolt. "Now, use Thunder Fang!" Luxray came at Aggron with Thunder Fang and lands a hit, earning a knockout. The referee raises the green flag.
"Aggron is unable to battle! Luxray wins!" The referee announced.
"Lucas has taken the lead! Paul will have to come up with a new plan if he wants to stay in this battle, and this tournament!" The announcer announced. Paul calls back Aggron and took out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Gastrodon! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out. Paul's Gastrodon is an East Sea Gastrodon.
"Paul's next Pokémon is an East Sea Gastrodon! Paul has done his homework since Ground Type resists Electric Type moves!" The announcer announced. Lucas calls back Luxray and took out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Torterra! your turn!" Lucas called out. Torterra came on out to battle against Gastrodon.
"Lucas's second Pokémon is Torterra! Both are Ground Types, and Torterra has the advantage as a Grass Type!" The announcer announced.
"Gastrodon! Ice Beam!" Paul ordered. Gastrodon unleashed Ice Beam to strike Torterra.
"Energy Ball!" Lucas ordered. Torterra unleashed Ice Beam and it blocked out Ice Beam. "Now, use Leaf Storm!" Torterra unleashed Leaf Storm, striking Gastrodon.
"Gastrodon! Use Body Slam!" Paul ordered. Gastrodon jumped to deliever a Body Slasm.
"Use Soloar Beam!" Lucas ordered. Torterra begins to charge up for Solar Beam.
"Gastrdon is coming down with a Body Slam as Torterra is charging up for Solar Beam!" The announcer announced. TOrterra unleashed Solar Beam, landing a hit on the east sea slug Pokémon. "Solar Beam hits it mark!" Gastrodon fell right on the ground, beaten. The referee raises the green flag once again.
"Gastrodon is uanble to battle! Torterra wins!" The referee announced.
"Lucas stays in the lead with his Torterra! Paul will have to come up a new trick and fast!" The announcer announced.
"Lucas is really giving it to Paul," Agumon said.
"Paul isn't what he used to be. Let's see how much have you changed," Paul," Sora said. Pual calls back Gastrodon and took out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Drapion! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out. Drapion has come out to battle against Torterra.
"Paul's third Pokémon is his Drapion! Torterra has the advantage of being a Ground Type, but Drapion has the advantage of being a Poison Type!" The announcer announced.
"What could Paul be planning?" Riku asked. Lucas calls back Torterra and took out his third Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Floatzel!" Lucas called out. Floatzel came out to battle against Drapion.
"Lucas has sent out his Floatzel as his fourth Pokémon!" The announcer announced.
"Drapion! Use Cross Poison!" Paul ordered. Drapion came at Drapion came at the sea weasel Pokémon with Cross Poison.
"Drapion makes its move with its Cross Poison!" The announcer announced.
"Dodge and use Ice Punch!" Lucas ordered. Floatzel lands Ice Punch on the face of Drapion.
"Use Pin Missle!" Drapion fires Pin Missle at Floatzel and they land a hit. "Keep firing that Pin Missle!" Drapion bombarded Floatzel with Pin Missle.
"Drapion unleashed Pin Missle onto its opponent again and again! How will Floatzel deal with this onslaught?" The announcer asked.
"Floatzel! Use your floatation sacs!" Lucasd called out. Floatzel uses his sacs to block out the Pin Missle bombardment.
"Floatzel is using its floatation sacs to block out Pin Missle. I have just the thing. Drapion! Use Toxic Spikes!" Paul ordered. Drapion unleaseahed purple poisonous spikes on Lucas's side of the battlefield. Floatzel has become poisoned by the spikes.
"FLoaztzel is now using its Toxic Spikes! Floatzel has now become poisoned!" The announcer announced.
"What was that?" Veemon asked.
"That was Toxic Spikes. It's a move that can poison any new Pokémon that comes onto the battlefield," Terra explained.
"That's pretty bad; an entire team to be poisoned for the rest of the battle," Gabumon said.
"Unless he has a Poison Type Pokémon, or if one of them knows moves like Rapid Spin, Lucas is good as poisoned," Riku added.
"Floaztel! Use Ice Punch!" Lucas ordered. Floatzel came right at Drapion with an Ice Punch.
"Drapion! Cross Poison!" Paul ordered. Drapion chared right at Floatzel with Cross Poison.
"Floatzel and Drapion charges right at one another to deliever hit! Who will land a hit first?!" The announcer exclaimed. Drapion was quick enough to land the finishing blow onto Floatzel. The referee raises the red flag.
"Floatzel is unable to battle! Drapion wins!" The referee announced.
"Paul has finally taken down one of Lucas's Pokémon, leaving Lucas only five remaining!" The announcer announced. Lucas calls back Floatzel and took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Gliscor!" Lucas called out. Gliscor came right out to battle Drapion. Paul calls back Drapion and takes out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Ninjask! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out. Ninjask came right out to battle against Gliscor.
"Paul switches Drapion with Ninjask! Let's see if Paul's choice is going to cost him!" The announcer announced.
"Gliscor! Use Fire Fang!" Lucas ordered. Gliscor flew right towards Ninjask to land a hit.
"Ninjask! Use Agility!" Paul ordered. Ninjask builds up lots of speed with Agility.
"Ninjask avoids Gliscor's Fire Fang and has built up its own speed with Speed Boost!" The announcer announced.
"What's Speed Boost?" Hawkon asked.
"Speed Boost an ability that boosts up speed for every time Ninjask goes on. I think Lucas is going to have such a hard time with that Pokémon," Aqua said.
"Gliscor! Use X-Scisscor!" Paul ordered. Gliscor came right at Ninjask. Ninjask dodges with its newfound speed because of Speed Boost.
"Gliscor misses! Gliscor misses!" The announcer annoucned.
"Now, use Night Slash!" Paul ordered. Ninjask heads right towards Gliscor with Night Slash.
"Dodge and use Steel Wing!" Lucas ordered. Gliscor heads towards Ninjask again, but dodges thanks to Speed Boost taking effect. Ninjask keeps on moving and moving, giving Lucas a hard time of keeping track.
"Ninjask is toying around with Gliscor! Both may be great flyers, but it's Ninjask's terms!" The announcer announced.
"Gliscor! Use Hyper Beam!" Lucas called out. Gliscor unleashed Hyper Beam right at Ninjask, and it finally lands a hit, dealing soe heavy damage.
"Gliscor finally lands a hit with that Hyper Beam!" The announcer announced. Lucas calls back his Gliscor since he knew of Hyper Beam's affect. "And now, Gliscor's being called back by Lucas! Which one is he sending out now?" Lucas took out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Staraptor!" Lucas called out. Staraptor came on out to battle Ninjask.
"It's Staraptor comng out to battle Ninjask!" The announcer announced.
"NInjask! Use Night Slash!" Paul ordered. Ninjask lands a series of Night Slashes on the predator Pokémon, again and again.
"Staraptor! Use Brave Bird!" Lucas ordered. Starptor unleashed Brave Bird onto Ninjask, causing some heavy damage. Staraptor sufferes from some recoil damage. Ninjask tries to get back up, but fell back on the ground, beaten. The referee raises the green flag.
"Ninjask is unable to battle! Staraptor wins!" The referee announced.
"Now Paul has four losses on his hands!" The announcer annoucned. Paul calls back Ninjask and pulls out another Pokéball and threw it.
"Drapion! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out. Drapion came back out to abttle against Starpator.
"Use Cross Posion!" Paul ordered. Drapion came at Staraptor and has earned a knockout. The referee raises the red flag.
"Staraptor is unable to battle! Drapion wins!" The referee announced.
"Now Staraptor is down for the count against Paul's strenth!" The announcer annoucned. Lucas took out Torterra's Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Torterra!' Lucas called out. Torterra was now poisoned by Drapion's Toxic Spikes.
"Torterra has been poisoned thanks to Drapion's Poison!" The announcer announced.
"Earthquake!" Lucas ordered. Torterra slams on the ground, making the battlefied shake.
"Use Cross Poison!" Paul ordered. Drapion came at Torterra and lands a hit, onto Torterra. Torterra was brought down by Drapion's Cross Poison as Drapion was brought down by its injuries. The referee raises both flags.
"Torterra and Drapion are both unable to battle! This round is a draw!" The referee announced.
"Both trianers has suffered a doube knocout!" The announcer announced. Lucas and Paul call back their fallen Pokémon and took out another Pokéball each.Paul threw his first.
"Froslass! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out. A Froslass came right out to battle aggainst Staraptor.
"Paul's fifth Pokémon is his Froslass, an Ice and Ghost Type!" The announcer announced. Lucas threw his next Pokéball.
"Go! Arcanine!" Lucas called out. Arcanine came on out to battle against Forslass. Arcanine ends up being poisoned by the effect of Toxic Spikes.
"Arcanine is brought back out to battle against Froslass, but also ends up being poisoned by the effect of Toxic Spikes!" The referee announced.
"Acanine! Flamethrower, but aim for the ground!" Lucas ordered. Arcanine unleashed Flamethrowe on the ground, confusing everyone.
"What is he up to?" Sora asked in his thoughts.
Arcanine's flames is making the whole battlefied hot, and it's vaporating the effects of Toxic Spikes.
"Outstanding! Arcanine's Flamethrower is dissolving the toxic from Drapion's Toxic Spikes!" The announcer announced.
"You burned up my Toxic Spikes! Not bad!" Paul said. Lucas couldn't believe his own ears. Paull was actually complimenting him. "But it's not over yet! Froslass! Use Hail!" Froslass unleashed Hail on the battlefield, makingit hail.
"Froslass has unleashed a hailstorm! Arcanine will be getting hit by Hail!" The announcer announced.
"Arcanine! Use Flaemthrower!" Lucas orderred. Arcanine unleashed Flamethrower right at Froslass.
"Dodge!" Paul ordered. Froslass avoids Flaemthrower with incredible speed.
"Froslass's ability, Snow Cloak has kicked right in!" The announcer announced.
"What's Snokw Cloak?" Tentomon asked.
"Snow Cloak is an ability that boosts evasion during a hail," Aqua explained.
"Now, use Ice Shard!" Froslass unleashed Ice Shard right at Arcanine, landing a series of hits. "Now, use Ice Beam!" Froslass unleashed Ice Beam to strike Arcanine.
"Flame Charge!" Lucas ordered. Arcanine ran with Flame Charge and lands a heavy hit onto Froslass. The snow land Pokémon has taken a lot of damage and fell on the ground beaten. The referee raises the green flag.
"Froslass is unable to battle! Arcanine wins!" The referee announced.
"Lucas has taken down all but one of Paul's Pokémon! Which one will it be?" The referee asked. Paul took out his last Pokéball and threw it.
"Electivire! Stand by for battle!" Paul called out.. Electivire came on out to battle against
"Paul's sixth and final Pokémon is Electivire!" The announcer announced.
"Arcanine! Use Flamethrower!" Lucas ordered.
"Protect!" Paul ordered. Electivire uses Protect and blocks out Arcanine's Flamethrower.
"Paul's Electivire uses Protect to block Flamethrower!" The announcer announced. Lucas calls back Arcanine and took out his next Pokéball and threw it.
"Back out, Gliscor!" Lucas called out. Gliscor came back out to battle against Electivire.
"Gliscor is sent back out to battle against Electivire!" The announcer announced.
"Gliscor! use X-Scissor!" Lucas ordered.
"Protect!" Paul ordered. Electivire uses Protect once again, and X-Scissor blocks it with perfection.
"Electire's Protect blocks out X-Scissor!" THe announcer announced.
"Now, use Brick Break!" Paul ordered. Electivire raises his hand to land a hit onto Gliscor, but he wraps his tail around his leg and goes flying in the air.
"Gliscor is literally taking Electivire for a lift!" The annoucner announced. Gliscor drops Electivire right to the ground, and lands on his back. "Gliscor has dropped Electivire and now it'sgetting ready to finish Electivire off!" Gliscor flew into position.
"Hyper Beam!" Lucas ordered. Gliscor unleashed a powerful Hyper Beam and it lands heavy damage begore Paul could give a comammand to use Protect. Electivire struggles to stand back up, but fell on his stomach, beaten. The referee raises the green flag.
"Electivire is unable to battle! Gliscor wins!" The referee announced.
"Lucas defeats Paul in this quarter final match!" The announcer announced. THe crowd starts cherring hard as Lucas has won. Paul calls back his Electivire and he looked right at Lucas.
"That was a good match, Lucas. You're way stronger than you were back then. I can admit that now," Paul said. He took his leave of the battlefield.
Over to Paul, he was on the phone with Reggie.
"I'm proud of you, Paul. You gave it your all and you didn't rely heavily on ppower like you used to," Reggie said.
"After everything that's happened, I don't need to.
"I can bet. I'm just proud of you, Paul," Reggie said.
"Thanks, Reggie. I really mean it," Paul said. Paul breaks contact and he spt Sora and Riku standing there. "Sora, Riku, been standing there long?"
"Long enough," Sora said.
"You took that well," Riku said.
"Yeah. And Reggie was right, I didn't rely too much on power liek I used to. It's kinda funny. It's almost like I wanted to lose," Paul said.
"You? Wanting to lose? No," Sora said.
"I know it sounds weird, but that's how I fell about it. My eyes are very much opened after what Myotismon did to me way back. But you can say it's my own fault for letting him get to me, because of the factr I hated you guys," Paul said.
"We get it, Paul," Riku said.
"Let him get it off his chest, Riku," Sora said.
"The reason for it was because of the way you treated your own Pokémon. I thought they were only tools for battle, to make human beings get stronger, but you didn't. You saw them as equals. I thought friendship was a huge waste of time. I thought loving and caring about your Pokémon would only make a trainer soft and weak, but it was the opposite effect on you two. The truth is I was jealous, not only because of your strengths, but because of how close you are with your Pokémon. How well you treated them, it reminded me so much of Reggie. I used to think it was Reggie's downfall, causing him to lose to Brandon," Paul said.
"Bascically, you just misunderstood the whlole thing," Riku said. Paul looked right at Riku. "There's nothing wrong with showing your Pokémon some appreciation, Paul. My Eevee was my very first when I was just starting out in Alola. I attended a school on how to be a Pokémon trainer. I learned so much. At first I thought it was boring, but I managed to get some hands-on experience on the the basics. My Eevee and I were close as a Pokémon and trainer should be."
"Take that to heart, Paul. This is something Riku and I know a lot about," Sora said.
"I am letting it sink in. Even before the tournament got started, I have been a whole completely different person. When you snapped out of it, I regretted every bit of my actions. I thought I was such an idiot for letting it happen to me like the way I did. Wheni was defeated in that full battle against you, that pretty much made it worse for me. So, no more," Paul said.
"And now that you're out of the tournament, what are you going to do now?" Sora saked.
"I'll head back to Snowpoint City and ask Brandon for a rematch. I don't even care if I win or lose when I get to him; but I doubt I'll win like you did," Paul said. Sora sighed.
"To be honest, Paul, I wasn't sure I was going to win it. Even with the Pokémon I chose to go up against him, I was sure I was going to lose, but I didn't. The reason I challenged Brandon in the first place, was to help you snap out of it. And I could see that plan failed in miserable failure," Sora said.
"And what about all those battles with the Frontier Brains, what was that about?" Paul asked.
"First of all, Scott was there, and second, it was Tucker's idea to make it into a live show, bcause he was trying to inflate his own ego," Sora said.
"That makes sense to me," Riku said.
"That's what happens when everyone knows who you are," Sora said. "I can bet even Cynthia can understand what I mean."
"So, what about you, Sora? You ever lost a battle?" Paul asked.
"I did. It was against a trainer named AJ. He used a Sandshrew to take down two of my Pokémon without breaking a sweat. Also, I lost my cool when he insulted my necklace. Just about anyone would take it personally when someone makes fun of something that's been in your familiy for many generations," Sora said.
"What's so important about that necklace?" Paul asked.
"This necklace is a symbol of knighthood. In the old days, the boys of the family always wore them, making the people believe they were actually knights in the eyes of the people. But there are a few people who actually believes it nowadays," Sora said. Paul was stunned to learn something about Sora he didn't expect to figure out. "But it was my own fault that I lost my cool in the first place," Sora said.
"And there's the battle between me and Sora. He gave it all he had, and I still beat him. He didn't stand a chance against me back then, but as time went on, I knew he was getting stronger and stronger each time we met. And I couldn't ask for a better rivl than Sora," Riku said.
"That is a whole lot to take in. If we met back then, maybe I would have taken a while different view on the whole thing, but I don't know. Destiny has a funny way of showing up when it wants to. I guess this is the something new that Cynthia was talking about," Paul said. "Something new will be born. I could already see that was the case with the two of you. And now, I see it with me and Lucas."
"And what's that?" Riku asked.
"What you two have. When I first heard of it, I didn't really understand it at first, but I have a much better understanding now. Not because of some legend but pretty much everything else," Paul said.
"And once you're done with Snowpoint City, what will you do then?" Riku asked. Paul took a deep breath.
"I haven't really thought that far ahaed. I'll just have to cross that bridge when I come to it," Paul said.
"No point of getting yourself worked up before you get started," Sora said. "But whatever you decide to do afterwards, the least we could do is wish you the best for the future." Paul smiled.
"Thanks, Sora. And I'm doing the same thing for you two. Good luck, Sora; and keep living up to your reputation," Paul said, taking his leave. Sora and Riku has watched Paul leave the Sinnoh Pokémon League grounds, and set off to Snowpoint City. Sora and Riku were glad to see Paul has become a whole new person. Sora could imagine how sorry Myotismon was for what he did. Paul headed for the harbor and set off to Snowpoint City.
"Myotismon was such a jackass. Because of him, I'm the person I am now. And I don't need some Digimon pulling my strings, not anymore," Paul said in his thoughts.
Later after the final of the quarter finals has concluded, Sora, Lucas, Barry, and a fourth has made their way towards the semi-finals.
"This is it, the semi-finals start tomorrow. And after that, it's the real deal!" Barry said.
"We just need to know who we'll be up against first, Barry," Lucas reminded his best friend," Lucas said.
"He's right, Barry. But let's make a deal. No matter who's battling who, may be better trainer win," Sora said.
"Couldn't say any better myself," Lucas said.
"Yeah. I'm hoping it's against one of you and I plan on showing off my strength for the whole world to see," Barry said.
After waiting for a few minutes, the results has been finally been inprinted.
"Ladies and gentlemen, so far, these top four trainers has made it all the way to the semi finals of the Sinnoh Pokémon League! All their efforts, training and sacrifice will be put to the ultimate test on who will emerge victorious in the final round! Now for the moment you've all been waiting for! The matchups of the semi finals!" The announcer announced as the computer has made the matchups. It was Sora versus Barry, as it was Lucas against the fourth trainer. "And here are the final four matchups! Who ever wins the two battles taking place tomorrow shall make it to the final arena, to have the full six-on-six battle! We shall see who will be bringing home the gold and who will not! Come here tomorrow if you want to witness it or you can always catch it on TV!"
And this was it. The semi finals has begun, and only three more battles to decide the championship. This was Lucas and Barry's chance to show Sora their strength, but will Sora make it all the way to the final match, or will Barry be having that pleasure against whoever wins there? Just you wait and see.